Afrobeats King Davido has extended condolences to the family of the late banker and businessman, Herbert Wigwe, who died in a helicopter crash.
Wigwe, the co-founder of Access Bank, his wife, son, and a former president of the Nigerian stock exchange were reported dead in the crash that occurred in California on Friday, February 9, 2024.
Davido, who himself experienced the tragic loss of his son sometime in 2022, asked for “strength and comfort for the Wigwe family” in a short X (Twitter) post on Saturday.
Hundreds of followers responded to the tweet, paying tribute to the successful banking professional.
“Losing father, mother and two kids on a particular day is horrible loss to the entire family. May God comfort the family and protect us all.
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“That’s not a loss, that’s is a disaster. No family deserves to experience such brutal pain,” some users wrote about the incident.
Another mourner added, “Quite a great loss. This is a sad reminder that life can be snatched at any moment. What we live for is just memories and a legacy. I hope Access Bank can get a better manager to safe-keep the fortunes of millions of their customers.”
Media reports indicate the 57-year-old banker was on his way to Las Vegas to attend the Super Bowl, where RnB legend, Usher, was performing.
Mr Wigwe founded Access Bank in 1989, which became the largest bank in Nigeria in 2018 after it acquired its main competitor, Diamond Bank.
According to reports, the philanthropist who had impacted the industry positively was aiming to expand across the continent, acquiring banks in countries including Kenya, South Africa, and Botswana.
He had planned to open a new banking service in Asia in the first quarter of 2024.
Other accomplishments include the establishment of the HOW Foundation, a non-profit organisation, in 2016.
In February 2017, he was named co-chair of the Nigerian Business Coalition against AIDS, a private-sector initiative to help eradicate HIV/AIDS in Nigeria and support people living with the condition.
He was married to Chizoba Wigwe, and they had four children. In October 2022, the Nigerian National honour, Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic, was conferred on him by President Mahamudu Buhari.