By Africa Links 24
Published on 2024-02-12 12:38:55
Nigerians Mourn the Unexpected Loss of Banking Giant Herbert Wigwe and Former Stock Exchange Chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo
The unexpected deaths of Nigerian banking titan Herbert Wigwe and former Nigeria Stock Exchange chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo in a helicopter crash in California has shocked and saddened the nation. Along with Wigwe, his wife Chizoba Wigwe, and son Chizi Wigwe were among the six people killed in the tragic accident in the Mojave Desert on Friday. The chartered helicopter was en route from Palm Springs, California to Boulder City, Nevada but crashed about 120km from Las Vegas as the group headed to the Super Bowl NFL game.
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has led the nation in paying tribute to the victims, expressing deep distress at the loss of Mr. Herbert Wigwe, and Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, along with members of the Wigwe family.
Herbert Wigwe, 57, was the founder and group CEO of Access Bank, a major financial institution in Nigeria. Under Wigwe’s leadership, Access Bank became the largest bank in Nigeria in 2018 after acquiring its main competitor, Diamond Bank. Wigwe’s strategic vision and relentless drive led to the bank’s rapid growth and expansion, with the company becoming one of the largest retail banks in Africa with over 40 million customers. Wigwe was also recognized for his accomplishments, receiving African Banker’s African Banker of the Year award for two successive years and being named in New African’s annual list of the 100 Most Influential Africans.
In 2020, Wigwe shared his aspirations for Access Bank’s future, aiming to have subsidiaries in 22 countries and about 100 million customers in Nigeria and an additional 20 million customers across African subsidiaries by 2023.
The untimely death of Abimbola Ogunbanjo is also a significant loss to the Nigerian financial community. Ogunbanjo served as the president of the National Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) from 2017 to 2021 and as the first group chairman of NGX Group from 2021 to 2022. His strategic acumen and dedication were instrumental in shaping NGX Group’s transformative journey.
In a statement, NGX Group expressed its grief over the loss of Ogunbanjo and his impactful leadership, which has left an indelible mark on the organization and the broader Nigerian financial community. The Group also paid tribute to Dr. Herbert Wigwe, acknowledging his unblemished footprint in the private sector and expressing its commitment to preserving the legacy of both leaders.
The tragic deaths of Herbert Wigwe, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and their family members have undoubtedly left a void in the Nigerian financial and business community. Their contributions and accomplishments will be remembered, and their legacies will continue to inspire and shape the industry for years to come. Their families, friends, and colleagues have been in the thoughts and prayers of the nation during this difficult time.
