As tributes continue to pour in from all over the country and beyond for the Group Managing Director of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe, who died in a helicopter crash last Friday in the United States, President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, on Monday, described Wigwe as his country’s continental partner and banking sector pioneer.
Wigwe, a top banker and entrepreneur, was killed in the crash alongside his wife, Chizoba, son, and former Group Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo.
Meanwhile, Access Holdings Plc announced the appointment of Ms. Bolaji Agbede as acting Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) following the death of Wigwe. In a notification to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) last night, the company said the appointment of Agbede was subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Access Holdings, following an earlier statement dated February 11, explained that until her appointment, Agbede was the company’s most senior founding Executive Director in charge of Business Support.
Agbede has nearly three decades of professional experience, cutting across banking and business consultancy.
Ramaphosa, in his condolence message on X (formerly Twitter), stated that he was deeply saddened by the aviation tragedy that claimed the lives of “our continental partner and banking sector pioneer, Nigeria’s Herbert Wigwe, Group CEO of Access Bank, his wife and son and former Chair of the Nigerian Exchange Group Abimbola Ogunbanjo.”
The South African president added, “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the affected families, including the relatives and friends of the helicopter crew who perished, as well as the Access Bank family around the globe, including South Africa. May all the departed souls rest in peace.
“We value Access Bank South Africa’s support for our investment drive and we share in this terrible loss felt by the management and staff of a flagship African enterprise.”
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