Herbert Wigwe, the Group CEO of Lagos-based Access Bank, was among the six people killed in a helicopter crash in California on Friday night. The news has left the Nigerian community and the banking sector in a state of shock and mourning.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Director-General of the World Trade Organization, expressed her grief on social media, saying, “Terribly saddened by the news of the terrible loss of Herbert Wigwe … his wife and son as well as Bimbo Ogunbanjo in a helicopter crash. May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace.”
Wigwe, along with his wife and son, and Bimbo Ogunbanjo, the former chair of NGX Group, the Nigerian stock exchange, were on board the ill-fated helicopter. The identities of the other two victims have not been disclosed yet. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department confirmed on Saturday evening that there were no survivors from the crash.
The helicopter crash occurred a quarter-mile east of Interstate 15’s Halloran Springs exit, near a natural springs site in the Mojave Desert. The location is approximately 80 miles south of Las Vegas, where the Super Bowl between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs was scheduled to take place on Sunday.
The aircraft was identified as either a Eurocopter EC130 or an Airbus Helicopters H130, according to federal officials. Both models are essentially the same. The crash was reported at about 10:12 p.m. on Friday.
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At the time of the crash, the weather conditions in the area were challenging. Temperatures were in the high 20s, and although the winds were fairly light at around 10 mph, gusts were starting to move in. Some gusts were measured at 29 mph before sunrise on Saturday. The California Highway Patrol reported that a “large band of snow” was moving through Halloran Springs shortly after the crash. The snow was moderate and mixed with rain.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, which has scheduled a news conference on the crash for 6 p.m. local time.
Bayo Onanuga, Nigerian presidential spokesman, paid tribute to Wigwe’s vision and ambition, stating, “Wigwe had a big vision to make Access Holdings (the parent company) Africa’s biggest, with all the unquenchable thirst for acquisitions.”
Tributes have been pouring in for Wigwe, who was a respected figure in the banking industry. An unnamed source, possibly close to the incident, was quoted saying, “This is a big loss. He didn’t die alone, both his wife and son were involved. It’s quite unfortunate that he had to die this way.”
Godwin Obaseki, Governor of the Edo State, expressed his shock and devastation over Wigwe’s death, saying, “The tragic incident is painful and heart-wrenching, and we pray for God’s abiding comfort in this profoundly difficult time. Wigwe was a colossus in Nigeria’s financial sector, leading Access Bank to become an international brand that placed Nigeria on the global map of first-class financial services.”
Nigerian journalist and celebrity Modele Sarafa-Yusuf also expressed her grief on her social media accounts, saying that Wigwe was a friend, and his loss is profound. She praised his impact in banking and finance, art, education, and philanthropy, and remembered him as cerebral and quick-witted.
As the investigation continues, the world waits for answers about this tragic incident. The loss of such prominent figures will undoubtedly leave a significant void in the banking and finance industry. This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing every moment.
As of the latest updates, the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board have initiated an investigation into the helicopter crash.
The crash has been confirmed by Nigerian officials, including World Trade Organization Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
The helicopter was headed to Las Vegas when it crashed near a border city between Nevada and California.
The US government confirmed all on board are dead as no survivors have been located as of Saturday morning.
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