Herbert Wigwe Biography
Early Life and Education
Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe was born on August 15, 1966, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Education: had a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from the University of Nigeria in 1987.
In 1990, he received the British Council Scholarship to study at the University College of North Wales, earning a Master of Arts in banking and finance in 1991.
He later obtained a MSc in Financial Economics from the University of London in 1996.
Career and Achievements
Wigwe started his career at Coopers & Lybrand and later joined Guaranty Trust Bank, where he spent over a decade.
Career: In 2002, he and his business partner, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, bought Access Bank, which grew from being the 65th largest in Nigeria to the 4th largest bank in the country by 2017.
Death: From January 2014 until his death, he was the CEO and Group Managing Director of Access Bank.
Achievements: played a key role in transforming Access Bank into a global financial institution and expanding it beyond the African continent, making it a financial conglomerate.
Contributions and Recognition
Wigwe was involved in the creation of The Access Conference, a thought-leadership series as a response to global challenges, engaging global leaders and provoking debates on major issues.
He received several honors and awards, including being named Banker of The Year and receiving a national honor of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) in 2022.
He was a philanthropist and contributed to youth development, being inaugurated as State Patron for Lagos State Council by the Boys’ Brigade.
Personal Life and Demise
Wife and Children: He was married to Chizoba Wigwe and had four children.
Death: Wigwe, along with his wife and son, was confirmed dead in a helicopter crash near Nipton, California, on February 9, 2024, at the age of 57.
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