The Eko Hotel in Lagos became the solemn gathering ground for friends, captains of industry, family members, and associates on Monday, as they convened to bid a final farewell to the late former Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe.
Wigwe tragically passed away on February 9, 2024, in a devastating helicopter crash in the United States, alongside his wife, son, and former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo.
The loss deeply shook the business community and beyond, leaving a void that resonated far and wide.
In a poignant event titled ‘Celebrating Herbert Wigwe – A Professional Legacy’, dignitaries from various sectors of society paid tribute to the indelible mark left by Wigwe, marking the commencement of his burial rites.
Among the esteemed attendees were Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Group; Yemi Cardoso, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Wale Edun, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy; Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State; Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State; Dr. John Momoh and Shola Momoh, Chairman and Vice Chairman of Channels Media Group, respectively, alongside numerous other dignitaries.
A visibly emotional Aliko Dangote, in a heartfelt tribute, hailed Wigwe as a brother and friend, acknowledging his unwavering support and naming a road leading to the Dangote Refinery in his honor.
“He was a pillar of support to me, and my family,” an emotional Dangote told the gathering in Lagos in a speech in which he also renamed the road leading to the Dangote Refinery after Wigwe.
Governor Sanwo-Olu eulogized Wigwe as a beacon of the Lagos spirit, emphasizing his detribalized nature and profound impact on the commercial hub of Nigeria.
Echoing sentiments of loss and admiration, Yemi Cardoso and Wale Edun reminisced about Wigwe’s visionary leadership and significant contributions to the nation’s economy.
“He was so full of ideas and creative in his thinking,” Edun said about Wigwe with Cardoso describing the death as a “profound loss”.
Edun highlighted Wigwe’s innovative thinking and wealth of ideas, while Cardoso lamented the profound void left by his untimely departure.
The President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, in a tribute filled with reverence, praised Wigwe’s ingenuity and transformative touch, saying “everything he touched turned into gold” a testament to his remarkable legacy.
