Herbert Wigwe @ 60: A Legacy of Banking, Service, Nation-building
Omolabake Fasogbon
Dr. Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe, the late banker, entrepreneur and philanthropist, would have turned 60 today, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence banking, education, healthcare and youth development in Nigeria and beyond.
Wigwe, who rose to become one of Africa’s leading financial executives, was widely known for his role in the transformation and expansion of Access Bank. But beyond banking, he devoted considerable attention and resources to building institutions, supporting young people and creating opportunities for disadvantaged communities.
To his family, friends and associates, he was also a mentor and a firm believer in the ability of people to achieve more when given the right opportunities.
As Co-Founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank and later Access Holdings, Wigwe played a major role in the growth of the financial institution from a Nigerian bank into a financial services group with operations across several countries. His ambition was not simply to build a successful Nigerian bank, but to develop an African institution capable of competing with leading financial organisations around the world.
His influence also extended beyond Access Bank. As Chairman of the Bankers’ Committee, Wigwe participated in discussions on major issues affecting Nigeria’s banking industry and economy. He worked with government officials, regulators and other business leaders, believing that the private sector had a responsibility to contribute to national development and help find solutions to the country’s social and economic challenges.
Wigwe’s belief that business success should make a difference in society was reflected in the establishment of The HOW Foundation in 2016.
Through the Foundation, he supported programmes in education, healthcare, mentorship and youth development. Its interventions included educational support for disadvantaged children, programmes in Makoko and for Almajiri children, medical scholarships and specialist oncology training. The Foundation also supported the adoption and rehabilitation of 25 primary healthcare centres in Rivers State.
Perhaps one of Wigwe’s most ambitious projects was Wigwe University, which reflected his strong belief in the power of education to transform Africa. He envisioned a university that would produce confident, entrepreneurial and globally competitive young Africans capable of creating jobs, solving problems and building institutions.
The university received its operating licence in 2023 and, despite Wigwe’s death before it fully opened, went ahead to welcome its first students and continue the vision of its founder.
His commitment to developing a new generation of African leaders also continues through initiatives such as the Fearless Leadership Series and the Wigwe Venture Lab. Wigwe encouraged young Nigerians to think boldly, challenge convention, take responsibility and create solutions. He believed leadership was not simply about occupying an important position, but about making a positive impact on people and society.
Wigwe died in February 2024 while many of his plans were still unfolding, but the institutions he helped to build and the people he supported continue to carry his vision. As family members, friends, colleagues and associates mark what would have been his 60th birthday, his story remains one of ambition, institution-building, philanthropy and service.
His legacy is increasingly being measured not only by what he achieved during his lifetime but also by the institutions he created, the opportunities he provided and the people he inspired.