Herbert Wigwe, his wife, Chizoba, and their son, Chizi, were laid to rest in his hometown of Omueke, Isiokpo, in Rivers State.
The late Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, his wife, and son were interred privately following a funeral church service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lion of Judah Parish, Isiokpo.
The funeral service on Saturday began promptly at 11:00 am following a Christian wake held in their honor. Hundreds of mourners, including friends, associates, and well-wishers from Nigeria and around the world, gathered in Isiokpo to bid farewell to the trio.
The dignitaries at the service were; Senate President Godswill Akpabio; Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike; business leader Aliko Dangote, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II, Gov. Alex Otti, Gov. Dapo Abiodun, former Senate President Bukola Saraki; Gov. Babajide Sawno-Olu, former Anambra State Gov. Peter Obi; and other notable captains of industry.
Others include Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara and State Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu, who was the Chief Security Officer of the burial ceremony.
Also at the funeral were Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State and Dr. Godknows Igali, a former Nigerian diplomat, among many others.
The trio of Herbert, Chizoba, and Chizi Wigwe, alongside former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, as well as two pilots, were all in the Airbus Helicopter EC 130B4 with registration number N130CZ, which crashed near Halloran Springs, California, on February 9, 2024.
The exact cause of the crash is not yet known, but a preliminary report released by the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) two weeks ago, said the chopper was seen by several witnesses in vehicles who reported it as a “fireball” before its eventual crash.
The reports from the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, disclosed that the weather on the fateful day of the helicopter crash was a mix of rain and snow.
Wigwe’s death remains one of the most shocking in the Nigerian banking industry.
During the events leading to their burial, several friends, captains of industry, family members, and associates paid tribute to the late banking guru and his wife and son.
Leading the tributes at an event in Lagos on Monday, a tearful Aliko Dangote described Wigwe as his brother and friend.
“He was a pillar of support to me, and my family,” Dangote told the gathering in Lagos in a speech in which he renamed the road leading to the Dangote Refinery after Wigwe.
For Vice President who represented President Bola Tinubu at the event, Wigwe was a beacon of hope that left at an odd time.
“Herbert left us in the winter before the season of bloom. Spring was just about to arrive at his last location, the United States when the Lord called for him,” Shettima said.
The VP also noted that the late Wigwe was an early bloomer who transformed the Nigerian banking industry, recalling his visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to his community.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Wigwe, said that Wigwe embodied the true spirit of Lagos State, saying the nation’s commercial nerve centre won’t forget him.
Sanwo-Olu, Wigwe was a “completely detribalised” person whom ” Lagos will not forget”.
Eulogizing her late father on the night of tributes on Wednesday, Tochi Wigwe, said he was committed and dotting.
“In this moment, for the first time, your words resonate deeply within me. No longer do I want to tilt my head and squint my eyes in confusion. You were simply extraordinary,” Tochi said.
“You urged me to reach new heights I never even imagined. Whenever doubt clouded my mind, you would chuckle knowingly and say, ‘You really just don’t know whose child you are, you’ll soon find out.’ And once again, you were right: I’ve come to find out.
“I could never fathom how you managed to do it all; it seemed inconceivable. Turning everything you touched to gold while remaining an unwavering anchor for your family and friends.”
A former Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, was almost inconsolable as he mounted the podium to pay tribute to his “brother,” Wigwe.
Sanusi could not hold his tears as he narrated how late Wigwe helped him when he was dethroned as Emir.
He regretted that Wigwe had to die before him, saying, “I was thinking I would die and leave Herbert. We have all heard about him, about his loyalty”.
In what was perhaps one of the most touching tributes, the personal assistant to Wigwe, Sola Faleye, got many people in the hall and those watching emotionally as he narrated the last moments with his late boss before the unfortunate crash.
He said he was supposed to fly in the chopper alongside his boss and others but on second thought decided to accompany their luggage by road since the chopper could not carry it.
Falaye decided to accompany the luggage by road to ensure it arrived safely to his boss, who told him it was a brilliant idea.
So he headed to Vegas by road with the luggage while Wigwe, his wife, son, and Mr. Ogunbajo boarded the chopper to the same destination.
While still driving to Vegas, Faleye tried to call his boss and the others on the chopper, but none of the calls went through.
Some other dignitaries who paid tribute to the late Access Bank chief were the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Yemi Cardoso; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; and the President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, among others.
