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Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe (born August 15, 1966 – February 9, 2024) is a leading Nigerian banker and businessman.
He is the Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s top five banking institutions.
Herbert Wigwe and his partner, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, bought Access Bank in 2002 and grew it into the largest bank in Nigeria. He is one of the wealthiest bankers on the African continent.
Former CEO of Access Bank
Herbert Wigwe |
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 Herbert Wigwe: History ‧ Bio ‧ Photos |
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| Wiki Info & About Data | |
| First and last name: | Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe |
| Stage name: | Herbert Wigwe |
| Born: | August 15, 1966 (57 years old) |
| Die: | February 9, 2024 (age 57), California, United States |
| Place of birth: | Isiokpo, Ikwerre, Rivers State, Nigeria |
| State of origin: | River state |
| Nationality: | Nigerian |
| Education: | University of Nigeria Nsukka, Bangor University, University of London |
| Height: | 1.67 m |
| Parents: | Shyngle Wigwe |
| Siblings: | Joyce Wigwe, Peggy Wigwe and Stella Wigwe, Emeka Wigwe |
| Couple: | Chizoba Wigwe (m. ?–2024) |
| Girlfriend • Partner: | do not apply |
| Children: | Chizi Wigwe, Hannah Wigwe, Tochi Wigwe, David Wigwe |
| Job: | Bank employee • Businessman |
| Net value: | 65 million USD-70 million USD (USD) |
Early life
Herbert Wigwe was born to Pastor and Mrs. Shyngle Wigwe on August 15, 1966. He was born in a private hospital in Lagos Island, Lagos State. However, he is of South-South descent as he is originally from Rivers State.
The Wigwe family traces its ancestry to Isiokpo, Rivers State. However, Herbert Wigwe spent his formative years in the city of Ibadan with his parents and siblings. Wigwe’s family moved to Ibadan due to his father’s career. He has three sisters, Joyce Wigwe, Peggy Wigwe, and Stella Wigwe, and one brother, Emeka Wigwe.
Herbert Wigwe had a middle-class upbringing. His father, Pastor Shyngle Wigwe, worked in the Federal Civil Service and served as Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), and his mother worked as a nurse.
During Christmas, Wigwe’s family often goes to River State to spend the holidays with relatives in Isiokpo. Herbert grew up with four siblings and had a close relationship with each of them.
Education
Herbert Wigwe had his primary and secondary education in top schools in the South West region of Nigeria. After scoring well in his O’Levels, he pursued further education at the University of Nigeria.
Ever since he was in high school, Herbert became deeply interested in finance. This is why he was motivated to study accounting at the university level.
In the 1980s, he was accepted to study at Southeast Premier School, the school University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN). After a 4-year program, he received a bachelor’s degree in accounting in 1987.
After completing his first degree, Herbert Wigwe wished to continue his studies at postgraduate level. In 1990, he won a coveted British Council Scholarship to study at University College of North Wales (Currently Bangor University). He earned a Master of Arts in Banking and Finance in 1991.
After that, he studied for another Master’s degree, earning a Master’s degree in financial economics at the school. University of London in 1996. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School Executive Management Program. In 2018, Herbert received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
Career
Herbert Wigwe began his career as a management consultant at Coopers & Lybrand in the late 1980s and became an accountant in 1989. He resigned from the organization in 1990 to continue his studies at foreign. After completing his master’s degree and then returning to Nigeria, Herbert joined Trust Trust Bank (GTB) and would continue to work in the institution for over a decade. By 1998, he was promoted to Bank Executive Director.
In 2002, Herbert and his business partner, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, purchased Access Bank. The duo have been long-time friends and colleagues at GTB. The bank purchase was initially delayed by Central Bank of Nigeria as the latter worried that the couple was too young to own a bank. However, Herbert and his partner, Aig, soon proved the skeptics wrong when they grew Access Bank to the fourth largest bank in Nigeria by 2017. This tremendous growth has shaken Nigerian financial community.
Herbert Wigwe served as Access Bank’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer from 2002 to 2014, while his partner, Aig, was the bank’s Managing Director/CEO. In 2014, Herbert took over from Aig to become CEO of Access Bank Plc. Prior to this position, he began serving as chairman of Access Bank Ghana Limited starting in 2013.
In 2018, Herbert made history when Access Bank merged with Diamond Bank, becoming the largest bank in Nigeria. Herbert plans to expand the bank into Asia; however, he was unable to achieve this dream before his sudden death in February 2024. At his death, Herbert was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Group Managing Director (GMD) of Access Bank .
In 2016, Herbert Wigwe founded HOW Foundation, a non-profit organization focused on supporting vulnerable children, orphans and internally displaced persons in the northern region of Nigeria. Herbert was also the founder and prime minister of Wigwe University, a private university in Isiokpo, Rivers State. He founded a university in his hometown as a way to contribute to society. The university is scheduled to open in September 2024.
Awards & Nominations
In 2016, Herbert Wigwe was honored
“Banker of the Year” by The Sun and Vanguard, two leading Nigerian newspapers. That same year, the Boys Brigade appointed Wigwe as State Patron of the Lagos State Assembly.
In 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari conferred on him the national title of Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Personal life
In 1994, Herbert Wigwe married Doreen Chizoba Nwuba and she became known as Chizoba Wigwe. The couple had their first child, Chizi Wigwe, in January 1995. The couple has three other children – Tochi Wigwe, David Wigwe and Hannah Wigwe. Herbert is famous for his nickname “Isiokpo’s prophecy.” He is a Pentecostal Christian and attends the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David Parish in Lagos State.
In 2023, Herbert moved to an architectural masterpiece in Ikoyi, Lagos State. The magnificent mansion cost the successful banker billions of naira. He and his family lived in this house until his death.
Cause of death
On February 9, 2024, Herbert Wigwe died in a helicopter crash. He was among six people on board the Eurocopter EC130 who died in the crash near Nipton, California. The accident also resulted in the deaths of his wife, Doreen Chizoba Wigwe, his son, Chizi Wigwe, his friend and former Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Corporation Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and two crew members.
The passengers were on a charter flight operated by Orbic Air from Palm Springs International Airport to Boulder City, Nevada. They plan to attend the National Football League (NFL) championship game, Super Bowl LVIII on Sunday, in Las Vegas. At the time of his death, Herbert Wigwe was 57 years old.
Herbert Wigwe leaves behind three children, four siblings and elderly parents.
Net value
Herbert Wigwe is one of the richest professionals in the banking industry, having amassed his fortune through the development of Access Bank.
At the time of Herbert’s death, his fortune was estimated at $65 million – $70 million (USD).
