Access bank to announce Wigwe’s successor as Okonjo-Iweala, Otedola, others mourn

The board of Access Holdings Plc says it will soon announce an acting Group Chief Executive Officer to replace its late CEO, Herbert Wigwe.

The company, in a statement on Sunday, confirmed Wigwe’s death alongside his wife and son in an helicopter crash in United States on Friday.

According to the statement signed by the Group Company Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, the appointment of a new head was in line with the company’s policy.

“In line with the company’s policy, the board will soon announce the appointment of an Acting Group Chief Executive Officer even as we remain confident that the Access Group will build further on Dr. Wigwe’s legacy of growth and operational excellence,” the statement read in part.

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Meanwhile, The Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola and Group Chief Executive Officer of OandO, Adewale Tinubu, have expressed shock over the demise of Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo and other passengers in the ill-fated helicopter that crashed at the weekend in California.

This comes on the confirmation of the unfortunate incident by the Board of Directors of Access Holdings.

Daily Trust reports that Wigwe lost his life on board a helicopter with his wife, son and three other passengers enroute Las Vegas to watch Super Bowl, the annual league championship game of the National Football League (NFL) of the United States when the unfortunate incident happened.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Okonjo-Iweala, expressed sadness over the incident.

“Terribly saddened by the news of the terrible loss of Herbert Wigwe, his wife and son as well as Bimbo Ogunbanjo in a helicopter crash. My deepest sympathies and condolences to the Wigwe family, the Ogunbanjo family, Access Bank Group employees and Management and my younger Brother Herbert’s partner Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede. May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace,” she posted.

Chairman of Geregu Power Plc, Otedola, in two separate posts mourned the passing of the passengers.

He also prayed that God will comfort the Ogunbanjo family over the demise of Mr Abimbola.

In his condolence, Wale Tinubu who praised the achievement of Wigwe in the banking sector, stressed that his death is a reminder that ‘of the fragility of life; the jolt we need to ensure our time here is well spent and leaves a resounding impact on all’.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Edo counterpart, Godwin Obaseki, also mourned the passing of the Wigwe, his wife, son as well as Ogunbanjo.