Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said the late Herbert Wigwe has been sorely missed as a firm believer in and supporter of his administration’s development programmes since their inception in 2019.

 

Sanwo-Olu spoke during the First Year Memorial Service in honor of Wigwe, his wife Doreen, and son, Chizi, organized by Access Holdings at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

 

The memorial service was attended by the late Wigwe’s family, friends, colleagues, and loved ones, as well as President Emmanuel Macron of France; former President Olusegun Obasanjo; Governors Sanwo-Olu and his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun; Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II; present and former public office holders; captains of industries; renowned bankers; and business tycoons.

 

He said the State had felt the absence of the late Group Managing Director of Access Holdings very sorely since his passing last year.

 

Sanwo-Olu said some projects would have been delivered faster if Wigwe, the co-founder of Access Holdings, was alive, noting that “across the states, there are projects with Herbert Wigwe’s footprint.”

 

Recall that Herbert, Doreen and Chizi lost their lives alongside the former Chairman of the Nigeria Exchange Group (NGX), Bimbo Ogunbanjo, in a helicopter crash in the Mojave Desert near the California-Nevada border in the United States on February 9, 2024.

 

Sanwo-Olu, one year after his death, paid glowing tributes to the late Group Managing Director of Access Holdings and described the late Wigwe as a believer in his government’s works.

 

The Governor said the late Wigwe was a builder of not just businesses but also people, ideas and the future, adding that his death was a reality “we never prepared for.”

 

Snwo-Olu described Wigwe as a visionary who believed in Nigeria and Africa’s capacity to rise above challenges. He added that he was not just a friend but a brother with whom he shared the vision of good governance and passion for the people.

 

He said: “He lived perpetually in the present and the future. He believed in actions, not just words. I saw him transform vision into reality. When others hesitated, he moved. When others saw obstacles, he saw opportunities. He truly believed in Nigeria and Africa.

 

“He was a builder of men and businesses, turning visions into reality. His absence is deeply felt in Lagos State, as there are projects today that would have progressed faster if he were still with us. Herbert made my work easier by mobilising partners and funding for state projects.”

 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo highlighted Wigwe’s resilience and dedication to partnership, noting that “despite his success, he remained accessible and committed to nurturing relationships.

 

He understood that true leadership involves building both institutions and people.

 

“His legacy is a testament to what Africans can achieve through vision, determination, and collaboration,” Obasanjo stated.