Nigerian leaders expressed their condolences following the tragic death of Herbert Wigwe, CEO of one of the country’s largest banks, in a helicopter crash in Southern California’s Mojave Desert. Alongside Wigwe, five others lost their lives in the accident, including his wife and son, as well as Bamofin Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former chair of NGX Group, the Nigerian stock exchange.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu shared his grief on X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, “Their passing is an overwhelming tragedy that is shocking beyond comprehension. I pray for the peaceful repose of the departed and ask God Almighty to comfort the multitude of Nigerians who are grieving and the families of the deceased at this deeply agonizing moment.”
Wigwe, 57, was widely respected in Nigeria and the banking sector, known for his leadership at Access Bank and previously at Guaranty Trust Bank. Under his guidance, Access Bank expanded its assets and footprint across several African countries.
Sunday Ekwochi, group company secretary of Access Holdings, praised Wigwe’s transformative impact, stating, “Dr. Wigwe was a key driving force and a larger-than-life personality who brought his remarkable passion, energy, and experience to the transformation of the Access franchise.”
Wigwe’s legacy of excellence and compassion continues to inspire many, as reflected in the outpouring of support and condolences from friends, followers, and colleagues. His death is deeply felt, with presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga describing it as “a terrible blow” to Nigeria and Africa’s banking industry.
Beyond his achievements in banking, Wigwe was also committed to education, founding a private university in Nigeria’s Niger Delta region. Scheduled to open in September, the university was his way of giving back to society.
The helicopter crash occurred south of Interstate 15 near Halloran Springs Road, about 75 miles (120 km) northeast of Barstow. The aircraft, an Airbus EC-130, was en route from Palm Springs Airport to Boulder City, Nevada. Investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash, which tragically took the lives of all six individuals on board.