Tragedy Strikes: Nigerian Tycoon Herbert Wigwe and Family Perish in US Chopper Crash
One of the co-founders of Access Bank, a major financial institution in Nigeria, lost their life in a helicopter crash in California last Friday, along with five others.
Herbert Wigwe, along with his wife, son, and a former president of the Nigerian stock exchange, lost their lives in the tragic accident.
President Bola Tinubu described the death of Mr. Wigwe as an “overwhelming tragedy”.
Investigators are thoroughly examining the location in the Southern California desert to establish the reason behind the crash.
The helicopter that had been chartered was en route from Palm Springs to Boulder City in Nevada when it crashed approximately 96 kilometers (60 miles) away from Las Vegas.
As per reports from Nigerian media, the 57-year-old banking professional was en route to Las Vegas to participate in the Super Bowl scheduled for this Sunday.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department reported that the accident occurred close to Nipton, situated on the periphery of the Mojave Desert Preserve. Unfavorable weather conditions were noted, including reports of rain and snow showers in the vicinity.
In 1989, Mr. Wigwe established Access Bank, which, in 2018, secured its position as the largest bank in Nigeria by acquiring its primary rival, Diamond Bank.
In the past few years, Mr. Wigwe has been actively involved in extending the business presence across the continent, securing the acquisition of banks in various countries such as Kenya, South Africa, and Botswana.
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He was planning to open a new banking service in Asia in the first quarter of 2024.
Tributes have been pouring in following the news of his death. President Tinubu said it was “shocking beyond comprehension”. The president’s office described his death as “a terrible blow” to Nigeria and Africa’s banking industry.
In a newspaper article in January this year, Mr. Wigwe said investing in higher education was key to controlling mass migration, which “is destabilizing countries across the world”.
Considering this, he was actively working on establishing his own educational institution, Wigwe University, scheduled to commence operations in September. The university was planned to be situated in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, known for its abundant oil resources and also happens to be his hometown.
“We need to take a holistic approach to address global migration, starting with our traditional framework for international development. The best place to limit migration is not in the middle of the Mediterranean the English Channel or the Rio Grande. It is in the home countries that so many migrants are so desperate to leave,” he wrote, saying his university was an opportunity for him “to give back to society”.
Tragedy Strikes: Nigerian Tycoon Herbert Wigwe and Family Perish in US Chopper Crash
