Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe, the iconic Group Managing Director (GMD) of Access Holdings Plc, tragically passed away on February 9, 2024, leaving behind a profound legacy that transcended the financial sector. While remembered for his transformative leadership at Access Bank, Wigwe’s unwavering commitment to bridging Africa’s infrastructure gap through strategic investments earned him respect and admiration across the continent.
Born in Isiokpo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State on August 15, 1966, Wigwe’s journey began with a strong academic foundation. After graduating with a second-class upper degree in Accounting from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he pursued further studies in Banking and Finance, and an Executive program at Harvard Business School, solidifying his expertise.
His career took flight at Coopers and Lybrand Associates, where he quickly became a chartered accountant. Subsequently, he moved to Guaranty Trust Bank, where he spent over a decade in corporate and institutional banking before he partnered with Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, to buy Access Bank, a small bank at the time.
As the visionary leader of Access Bank, Wigwe steered the institution into a global banking powerhouse, serving over 6.5 million account holders and ranking among the top 500 global banks. Beyond banking, his philanthropic endeavors through the Herbert Wigwe Foundation earned him national recognition as Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). With an entrepreneurial spirit, Wigwe was a venture builder at his core, spotting opportunities even in challenging circumstances, building platforms and connecting people and driving significant investments in infrastructure development across Africa.
As GMD of Access Holdings, Wigwe spearheaded a bold vision for infrastructure development across Africa. Under his leadership, Access Holdings focused significantly on infrastructure development; human infrastructure, financial services infrastructure, and economic infrastructure. Access Bank built people and raised an army of bold, disciplined bankers that have gone on to become top banking professionals and entrepreneurs. He was also building Wigwe University, an expected world-class university for financial services professionals that would reflect his experience in banking. Wigwe also selflessly supported many local entrepreneurs too numerous to mention, from Flutterwave, to Healthcap and many others. Additionally, Access Bank, under his guidance, played pivotal roles in major national projects, such as the International Research Centre of Excellence for the Institute of Human Virology in Abuja and the Eko Atlantic development in Lagos. Committed to grassroots development, Access Holdings invested in programs facilitating access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises, fostering local infrastructure development.
Wigwe built institutions; with his partner, Imoukhuede, they moved a laggard bank to Africa’s leading bank by assets and today’s financial services behemoth.
Wigwe’s advocacy for increased private sector involvement in infrastructure development and his belief in the transformative power of robust infrastructure networks leave an enduring impact on Africa’s economic landscape. While his passing is deeply mourned, his legacy lives on as an inspiration to countless young Africans, fueling their aspirations for a brighter future. Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe’s visionary leadership and dedication to African progress will be remembered for generations to come.
