By Nkiruka Nnorom

Shareholders in the Nigeria Capital Market have described the death of group chief executive officer (GCEO) of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe and former group chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo as a great loss to the capital markets and the country at large.

Wigwe, his wife, Chizoba, his son, and Ogunbanjo all dead in a helicopter crash on Friday night close to a border city between Nevada when it was en route to Las Vegas..

Speaking on the incident, Adebayo Adeleke, Group Managing Director, Lancelot Ventures Limited and Former General Secretary, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, ISAN, who described their death as tragic, said that they have left their footprints in the sand of times. 

He said: “It’s rather tragic that it appears to be a season of death around the business community in general and Access Bank in particular. 

“Ogunbanjo, former Chairman of NGX and serving chairman of Beta Glass Plc, just buried his father last month. Access Bank just lost both its Board Chairman and the PA to the GMD recently. Now, Herbert Wigwe, wife and two children have also gone. 

“The entire shareholder community and the capital market are still in shock. We are deeply saddened by this development.”

“Herbert Wigwe was so much loved by shareholders for raising the bars of Access Bank higher after the exit of his soul-mate, Aig-Imoukhuede.

“He was my friend. We were born the same time, the same year and in the same town,” he added.

Speaking in the same vein, Moses Igbrude, National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria, ISAN, said: “It is a great loss to the banking sector and Nigeria as well as shareholders community. Wigwe was a great guy, a merger specialist and expert who alongside his colleague Aig Aigboje-Imoukhuede brought a small Access Bank to mega a bank;  local bank to international bank. It is a great loss, I sincerely wish his soul and others a profound peace.”

Mrs Bisi Bakere,  Chairman, Pragmatic Shareholders Association, said: “This is a big blow to the financial industry to have lost two influential persons in just one day.

The banking sector in general has lost a genius, a business guru, and a focused man in the person of Herbert Wigwe. “When Aig Imoukhuede retired from Access Bank, many thought the bank might have a set back, but that’s not with Herbert Wigwe. The bank continued to move from strength to strength, paying dividends, enlarged their tentacles from Nigeria bank to Africa and international bank as at today. 

“This is very sad news. May God console Nigeria, console the capital market,  console  Access Bank, and Nigerian banks. 

The mission and Vision, the zeal Herbert Wigwe had for Access Corporation was very strong. The entire shareholders are going to miss them.”

Ariyo Olugbosun, President, Exceptional Shareholders Association, said: “Herbert Wigwe was a man with passion for excellence and an unusual style of leadership. His dedication and passion to go beyond the usual has brought Access Bank (Now Access Holdings) to where it is today. He was a goal getter. 

“I have benefited a lot from him from far and near at meetings. His doggedness brought the new company we are seeing today.

“He had compassion, and his philanthropy can’t be measured. He lived a great life that was impactful. I want to give it to him and his team at Access Corp.

“The former Chairman of NGX was also a man of innovation who spearheaded the demutualization of NGX to be a listed entity today.”

Another shareholder, Chibuzo Eke, General Secretary, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), also said: “Life is full of risk. Herbert Wigwe’s death is a very big loss to the capital market, the financial  industry,  Access Bank and the next as a whole.

“This is the time Nigeria needs them most to join in restructuring the financial industry and the economy of this country. Wigwe and Abimbola Ogunbanjo are great  men in the financial  industry.  

“Herbert was a man driven by his vision and he’s result-oriented looking at the role he played in not allowing the  Intercontinental Bank and  Diamond Bank to  die natural death. Infact ,the capital market and financial industry will greatly miss them. My condolences to the families and the nation in general.”