Tears flowed ceaselessly as sympathizers who attended the funeral service of the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Holding, Herbert Wigwe, his wife Chizoba, and son Chizi saw as their remains were lowered into graves.
This climaxed with the six-day burial rites announced for the late Wigwes, which began on Monday.
The funeral service was held at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Lion of Judah parish, Isiokpo community in Ikwere Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The service for the seasoned banker and philanthropist Herbert Wigwe commenced promptly at 11:00 AM Saturday. Mourners, including friends, associates, and well-wishers from both local and international communities, have gathered to pay their final respects.
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The sombre occasion marks the end of an era for the financial world, as Wigwe’s legacy extends far beyond his professional achievements. His unwavering commitment, according to the tributes that poured in after his demise, to social causes and community development has left an indelible mark on countless lives.
The burial ground is located within the sprawling private home he built inside the premises of the Wigwe University in his country home of Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Recall that the deceased were on board the ill-fated helicopter that crashed between the boundaries of Nevada and California in the United States after an 11-hour flight from London on February 9, 2024.
Akpabio, Tambuwal commiserate with the bereaved
In his tribute to the departed business mogul, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, described late Dr. Wigwe as a great mentor who positively impacted the younger generations to greatness.
He spoke at the funeral ceremony on Saturday at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Lion of Judah Parish, Isiokpo.
Akpabio said Wigwe had left behind indelible legacies that would be difficult to equate in the education and financial sectors respectively and enjoined all to imbibe the positive virtues of the late billionaire.
The Senate President noted that Wigwe’s passion for human capital development prompted him to support many in acquiring tertiary education across the world.
“I believe he was a great mentor. He mentored a lot of younger people and he was a serious role model to the future generation that you can build from nothing and get to greatness. To become great, you must work hard, because with hard work, you can achieve greatness.
“The University he has left behind was because of his passion for education. He has supported and sent so many to educational citadels across the world and leaving this edifice behind.
“You know the university is not only for Nigerians, it is for the entire global community. So just like he was a global banker, opening bank branches all over the place.
“This man has made so much impact around the world. He gave food to so many people in Nigeria and many countries in the world, even in Dubai. He was also in China.
“He did a lot. He put food on the table of so many in the world. So I regarded him as a global citizen, an Icon of the world.”
Also speaking shortly after the event, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives and immediate past Governor of Sokoto State, Waziri Aminu Tambuwal, said Wigwe gave his best to the financial sector in Nigeria.
“He was an illustrious son. Someone who gave his best to the Nigerian financial sector. Unfortunately, he met an untimely death.
“It was his time. God Almighty had called upon him and he had to answer. Our consolation is that he did very well and he has left a very lasting legacy, May his soul rest in peace.”
Meanwhile, the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus said the vacuum created by the death of Wigwe would be hard to fill.
Secondus stated that the University Wigwe left behind in his home town would not only benefit his kinsmen, but the entire country.
“We are in pain because of the death of our brother. He has left a huge legacy that it would be very difficult for a very long time to fill.
“He was our brother and he was a leader and of course you know he was a financial guru. He was like a man who saw tomorrow.
“He dreamt and he followed his dream to the letter coming back home to establish the university that would have been the best and is still going to be the best in the world.
“It is one legacy that he has left that everybody in Isiokpo, in Rivers State, Nigeria and Africa as a whole would continue to remember him.”
Dignitaries at the funeral
Present at the service were 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi; Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, business leader Aliko Dangote, HRH Muhammadu Sanusi II, Gov. Alex Otti, Gov. Dapo Abiodun, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and other notable captains of industry.
Other top dignitaries in attendance are Rivers State Governor Sim Fubara and State Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu, who is the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the burial ceremony.
Also at the funeral are Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, Akwa Ibom Governor, Pastor Umo Eno and Dr. Godknows Igali, a former Nigerian diplomat, among many others.
Wigwe, his wife, and his son, the former Group Chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), Abimbola Ogunbanjo, were all in the Airbus Helicopter EC 130B4 with registration number N130CZ, which crashed near Halloran Springs, California, on February 9, 2024.
Wigwe slumps, not dead
Shyngle Wigwe, the biological father of the late former CEO of Access Holdings, Dr Herbert Wigwe, experienced a health scare as he slumped on Saturday, prompting a swift hospitalization.
Dismissing false reports of his demise, Popular influencer on X (formerly known as Twitter), Tony Ogbuagu clarified the situation on social media, urging restraint in spreading misinformation.
Contrary to previous reports by SaharaReporters, Ogbuagu denied the purported death of Shyngle.
He wrote: “Herbert Wigwe’s father is not dead please. He only slumped and has been taken to the hospital. Make una slow down with all these bad news.”
