On Sunday February 9, the family of late banker and investor, Herbert Wigwe, held a memorial thanksgiving service in his honour, his wife, Chizoba Dor
On Sunday February 9, the family of late banker and investor, Herbert Wigwe, held a memorial thanksgiving service in his honour, his wife, Chizoba Doreen and their son, Chizi.
The former CEO of Access Holdings died alongside his wife and son on February 9th 2024 in a devastating helicopter crash in California.
At the service which held at the Lion of Judah Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Isiokpo, Rivers State, the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara said that it would continue to stand by the father of the late banker, Pastor Shingle Wigwe and his family.
Speaking through his deputy, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu, Fubara commiserated with the Wigwe family and the RCCG where the late Wigwe worshipped before his sudden demise.
Fubara disclosed that Herbert, Chizoba, and Chizi live on, stressing that the state must collectively and individually help make their dreams, the dreams they had a reality.
“We should one way or the other do things that will make people remember forever Herbert, Chizoba, and Chizi Wigwe,” Fubara stressed.
According to him, God has been faithful to the Wigwe family and He has transformed their fabric of tears into that of praise, adding that God has turned ashes into beauty and the good Lord shall continue to sustain the family.
Conspicuously absent at the memorial were the late banker’s children.
But some of the dignitaries present were Rotimi Amaechi, a former minister of transport and a former presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressive Congress, APC; Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross River State; Sam Iwuajoku, businessman etc.
Reception followed immediately at the Wigwe University convocation hall.
Meanwhile in Lagos, the late banker’s friend and business partner, Aigboje Aig Imokhuede, the chairman of Access Holdings and Coronation Group Limited, organized a memorial service in his honour on the same day, Sunday February 9.
The event which held at Eko convention center began at 4.30pm, at about the same time the reception at Rivers State was underway.
The ceremony was declared open by Pastor Ituah Ighodalo of the Trinity Church. He would later give an exhortation and prayed for the family.
Steering proceedings at the memorial was Master of Ceremony, IK Osakioduwa who was ably assisted by Ebiye Alaibe, a lawyer and filmmaker.
There was a keynote address by the prime minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley.
In attendance at the memorial were the Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi; Yemi Osinbajo, former vice president; Dapo Abiodun, Ogun State governor; Tunde Folawiyo; Femi Pedro, former deputy governor of Lagos State; Karl Toriola, CTO MTN Nigeria, Leo Stan Ekeh, Zinox CEO.
Also present at the ceremony were children of the deceased, Tochi, Hannah, David and Okachi.
There were touching tributes from Wale Edun, minister of finance on behalf of President Bola Tinubu; Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State; Lohor Fabier on behalf of the French government; Bolaji Olugbede, the acting CEO of Access Holdings on behalf of former president Olusegun Obasanjo; Idere Gogo Ogan, chairman United Securities Limited; Uche Wigwe, the late banker’s cousin, managing partner, Wigwe & Partners etc
Other tributes were from Rasheed Sarumi, Tunde Ogundare both of whom extolled the late Chizi. Socialite, Alagoa and Linda Petinrini paid tribute to the late Chizoba Doreen.
Imokhuede ended his own tribute with a brief speech to the children of his late friend and business partner saying, “You are mine just as my children are my children. Nothing will shake my resolve towards you. I love you.”
Rounding up the torrent of tributes was his son, David Wigwe.
