Six individuals including Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe, co-founder of Nigeria’s preeminent banking firm Access Bank, were tragically killed in a helicopter crash near Nipton, California last Friday. Herbert Wigwe’s prominence in the global finance community, compounded with his invaluable role in establishing Access Bank’s current fame, highlights the gravity of the loss. Local authorities and emergency services arrived on the crash scene following numerous distress signals.
Investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board is presently ongoing to determine the cause of the crash. Among the deceased are three Access Bank executives and two pilots. Their sudden passing has reverberated through the international banking community, eliciting numerous sympathy messages from both political and business front-runners.
The vehicle, a Eurocopter EC 130, met its tragic end on Friday evening. Aboard were Wigwe, his family, and ex-president of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Abimbola Ogunbanjoa. The accident took place as Wigwe was traveling to an exclusive Las Vegas event, adding a surreal element to the devastating news.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office confirmed no survivors from the incident. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Traffic Safety Board are actively investigating. The expected timeline for this thorough investigation extends to the upcoming weeks.
While Access Bank had ambitious expansion plans under Wigwe’s leadership, it’s unclear how his sudden passing will affect these endeavors. Wigwe was also developing an educational institution, Wigwe University, in Nigeria, set to commence operations in September.
The incident has generated widespread shock and grief, given Wigwe’s significant contributions to the financial sector. Two final victims remain yet to be identified. The tragedy marks a profound international loss, particularly noted within the finance industry.
