Dangote In Tears As He Pays Tribute, Names Refinery Road After Herbert Wigwe [Video]

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote struggled to contain his tears as he led a procession of private sector professionals in paying homage to the late Dr. Herbert Wigwe, CEO of Access Holdings Group.

Dressed in somber black attire, the Chairman of the Dangote Group broke down in tears while expressing his deep condolences for his departed brother and friend.

In a heartfelt tribute, Dangote characterized Wigwe as a visionary and perfectionist who selflessly contributed to the betterment of others.

Despite the sorrow, Dangote found solace in the transformative legacy left by Wigwe across various landscapes.

He applauded Wigwe for breaking records and pushing boundaries in the banking sector, reshaping it significantly, and underscored the enduring impact of his philanthropic endeavors.

Dangote acknowledged Wigwe’s pivotal role as a pillar of strength for both him and his businesses.

He recounted how Wigwe, with unwavering determination, resolved challenges that arose as Dangote’s organization expanded.

Expressing profound gratitude, Dangote emphasized the enduring memory of Wigwe within his family, highlighting their shared trait of perseverance in the face of adversity.

Describing Wigwe as a soldier of courage despite his civilian background, Dangote praised Wigwe’s extraordinary focus and credited him for instrumental support in his ventures, particularly in the oil and gas sector.

“I stand here today with a sense of profound loss, feeling of utter helplessness. I feel very helpless because I could not prevent the tragedy that befell my friend, brother, mentee and a very loyal friend for that matter,” he stated.

In a touching gesture to immortalize Herbert Wigwe, Dangote announced the naming of his refinery and petrochemical road after the late businessman.

“To immortalise my beloved friend, my brother, and my mentee, I have actually decided to name a major refinery and petrochemical road. Out of the 120 kilometers, the biggest road will now be named ‘Herbert Wigwe,” he said.

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The somber occasion marked the death of Herbert Wigwe, his wife, son, and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, former group chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group Plc, in a tragic helicopter crash in the United States on February 10, 2024.

The Eurocopter EC130 helicopter, carrying all six passengers, crashed near the Nevada border at 10 pm on Friday in California, equivalent to 7 am on Saturday in Nigeria.

Before his untimely demise, Wigwe had also established Wigwe University and held various prominent positions, including Deputy Managing Director at Access Bank from 2002 to 2014, after which he became the Group Managing Director and CEO.

His legacy extended to chairing Access Bank (Ghana), Access Investment & Securities Limited, Central Securities and Clearing System (CSCS), and presently, Access Bank (UK) Limited and Unified Payments Services Limited.

KanyiDaily recalls that the family of the late Herbert Wigwe, alongside his wife Chizoba and son Chizi, had outlined a 6-day schedule for their burial rites.