Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote has revealed that late banker and Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, Herbert Wigwe was his pillar of support.
Dangote, amid tears, revealed this at the Night of Tribute for Wigwe held in Lagos on Monday. He was seen bowing his head and wiping his face with handkerchief. His voice was also choking as he spoke of the good times with Wigwe.
“I am proud to name him my devoted friend, mentee and supporter. I will forever cherish the warm of his friendship”, Dangote said.
The business mogul also named the road leading to his refinery Herbert Wigwe road.
Wigwe alongside his wife and son died in a helicopter crash on 9 February 2024 in the United States on his way to attend the Super Bowl LVIII championship in Las Vegas.
Weeks after, his associates including the country’s finest businessmen, governors, and government officials among others converged in the nation’s commercial nerve centre as Wigwe’s burial rites commenced with an event tagged, ‘Celebrating Herbert Wigwe – A Professional Legacy’.
Some of the dignitaries who graced the event include the Chairman of Dangote Group Aliko Dangote; the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor Yemi Cardoso; the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun; the President of the African Development Bank Group Akinwumi Adesina; Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos; Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State among others.
Speaking, Governor Sanwo-Olu said Wigwe embodied the true spirit of Lagos State, saying the nation’s commercial nerve centre won’t forget him.
Sanwo-Olu described Wigwe as a “completely detribalised” person whom ” Lagos will not forget”.
Tributes also came in from Cardoso and Edun who both recalled the late Access Holding group CEO’s contributions to the nation’s economy.
“He was so full of ideas and creative in his thinking,” Edun said about Wigwe with Cardoso describing the death as a “profound loss”.
The President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina also lauded Wigwe’s ingenuity, stressing that “everything he touched turned into gold”
