Victor EzejaFormer governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, has expressed deep sorrow over the demise of the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Dr Herbert Wigwe.
El-Rufai’s comments followed Access Holdings Plc’s confirmation of Wigwe’s death in a helicopter crash alongside his wife, Chizoba and his son.
The ill-fated incident occured on Friday, February 9 in the United States.
In a statement posted on his official X handle, El-Rufai said he was devastated by the news of the accident.
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He described Dr Wigwe as a great philanthropist whose life, decisions and actions positively impacted millions of people around the world including former CBN Governor and Emir of Kano, HRH Lamido Sanusi, Aliko Dangote, Aig Imuokhede, Kashim Ibrahim Imam, and Abubakar Suleiman.
He said Wigwe was the main enabler for the financing of Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical complex.
The former governor cited other examples of Wigwe’s philanthropic acts such “as spearheading and financing the design, construction, furnishing and equipping of a mega-basic education school at Fifth Chukker, Mararraban Jos for thousands of out-of-school children in Igabi Local Government to support the human capital development policies of our administration.”
El-Rufai said: “Herbert’s untimely death is a loss not only to his family and friends like us, but to Access Holdings, the financial services sector, the Nigerian economy, our nation and the Black Race at large.
“Brilliant, visionary in thinking and focused at execution, of his strategies as CEO of Access, yet Herbert was humble, responsive, respectful and imbued with limitless generosity of spirit that one can easily mistake him as an officer in his management team.”
While praying for God to grant the gentle souls of Herbert Wigwe, his wife Chizoba, son and others that died with him peaceful rest in eternity, El-Rufai remarked that Wigwe may have “gone too son,” but his legacies in Access Holdings, Wigwe University ( he founded) and many known and unknown endeavors will remain indelible in the history of Nigeria.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
