Following the unexpected passing of Herbert Wigwe, the founding Group CEO of Access Holding Plc, a wave of tributes have been pouring in from experts and founders in the tech community across the globe, especially in Africa.
These leaders have been honouring his unwavering commitment to innovation and progress which have significantly transformed Africa’s technology landscape.
A Visionary Leader
Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, co-founder of Flutterwave, a leading hi payments technology company, reflected on Wigwe’s impact on his life and fintech company, which is now one of Africa’s leading digital payment platforms.
Aboyeji, in a post on X, said: “My journey with Herbert began in a remarkable chapter of my life, right after my startup was acquired. I was a young engineer/entrepreneur, barely 30, stepping into a senior role at one of the largest banks in Africa, Access Bank. It was Herbert who believed in my potential to spearhead digital transformation, a task that seemed daunting but was made achievable through his guidance and faith in me.”
He added that “…despite not owning a single stock in Flutterwave, he went above and beyond to support us”, while describing Wigwe’s vision for Africa’s development as “boundless, always thinking of ways to elevate our continent on the global stage.”
Read also: Agbede replaces Wigwe as Access Bank CEO
A Testament to Leadership
Mujib Ishola, chief technology officer, Remita, explained how in 2018, Wigwe’s leadership recognised the potential for Access Bank to lend to federal workers and saw an opportunity to collaborate with SystemSpecs, securing the crucial approval from the CBN.
According to him, “Herbert was at the forefront of our partnership, as he was able to create a structure that facilitated the completion of the project just within a few weeks. This initiative brought comfort and assistance to many workers who needed money to do things just at the time they needed it and were experiencing the ease of seeing this happen for the first time. It was pure leadership. The collaboration has opened a new frontier to retail loan provision and the significant expansion of economic activities at the retail level.”
Shaping Africa’s Tech Ecosystem
Dr Wigwe’s impact on the tech community extended beyond his role at Access Bank. He was a vocal advocate for the development of African tech startups and a champion for the growth of the continent’s tech ecosystem. His vision for a more connected and inclusive Africa was a beacon for the entire industry.
Access Bank completed the acquisition of Diamond Bank in 2019, which created Africa’s largest bank by retail customers. Wigwe’s legacy will continue to inspire and guide the next generation of innovators, ensuring that the future of the industry remains bright and full of potential.
Country Managing Director for Access Bank Ghana, Mr Olumide Olatunji, described the loss of Dr Wigwe as saddening. He explained that the late visionary “was a man of many colours because of the exceptional impact he had on the growth of the banking industry and communities we serve. As our first Board Chairman and a pan-Africanist, Dr. Wigwe was pivotal in nurturing and making the Access Bank franchise relevant in Ghana as a key development partner. His legacy will never be forgotten”.
Dr. Herbert Wigwe’s impact on the tech community and the banking industry in Nigeria was significant. His unwavering commitment to innovation and his belief in the potential of African tech startups inspired many tech experts and founders. The quotes and submissions from tech innovators in this article demonstrate the profound impact that Wigwe had on the industry. His legacy will continue to inspire and guide the next generation of innovators, ensuring that the future of the industry remains bright and full of potential.
Dr. Wigwe’s Demise
Late Dr. Herbert Wigwe, the founder and former Group CEO of Access Bank, tragically passed away in a helicopter crash in California, USA, on February 9, 2024. The Eurocopter EC130B4 helicopter, carrying Wigwe, his wife Doreen, and their son Chizi, among others, crashed near the California-Nevada border. The National Transportation Safety Board announced that a preliminary report on the crash would be released within four weeks.