Who is Herbert Wigwe?
Herbert Wigwe was a Nigerian banker and entrepreneur. He was the CEO of Access Bank Plc before he died in a helicopter crash in February 2024. Wigwe became the CEO of Access Bank in January 2014, succeeding his business partner, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.
Herbert’s full name is Herbert Onyewumbu Wigwe. The banker was born on August 15, 1966, in Ibadan, Oyo State, though he was a native of Isiokpo in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State. Wigwe was 57 years old at the time of his death on February 9, 2024.
About Herbert Wigwe’s death
Herbert Wigwe, alongside 5 other people, which included his wife Chizoba, his son Chizi, Ex-Nigerian Exchange Group Plc Chairman Abimbola Ogunbanjo, and 2 crew members, died on February 9, 2024, in a helicopter crash. The Eurocopter EC130 they were traveling in crashed near Nipton, California.
According to reports, they were on a charter flight operated by Orbic Air to attend the Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. Wigwe and others were traveling from Palm Springs International Airport to Boulder City, Nevada before the tragedy occurred.
The remains of Herbert Wigwe and his family were sent back to Nigeria for burial in his hometown, Isiokpo, on March 9, 2024. Several dignitaries, such as Aliko Dangote, Peter Obi, Dapo Abiodun, and Sim Fubara, attended the ceremony.
About Herbert Wigwe’s parents
Herbert Wigwe was the son of Shyngle Wigwe (father) and Stella Wigwe (mother). Herbert’s father retired as a Director General of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), while his mom was a nurse.
Wigwe’s father was born on October 8, 1934. He is 89 years old as of May 2024. Shyngle and Stella have been married for over 5 decades and counting. According to reports, they sadly lost their first son, Osita, in 1997.
Pa Shyngle was falsely reported to have slumped during the funeral ceremony of Herbert and his family. However, a police source debunked the news, claiming he is well and alive.
About Herbert Wigwe’s siblings
Herbert Wigwe reportedly has 5 siblings, one of whom is late. His siblings are Joyce, Peggy, and Stella (sisters), Emeka, and Osita Wigwe (brothers). According to reports gathered by DNB Stories Africa, Osita died at age 34 in a road accident in 1997.
Further detailed information about Wigwe’s siblings is scarcely available in the media.
About Herbert Wigwe’s marriage and wedding
Herbert Wigwe was married to his wife, Doreen Chizoba Wigwe. The couple wedded in 1994 and were married for about 30 years before they sadly died in February 2024. According to reports, Wigwe and Chizoba tied the knot four months after they met. The Wigwes’ union was blessed with 4 children. However, the couple’s first son Chizi died alongside them in the helicopter crash.
Who was Herbert Wigwe’s wife – Doreen Chizoba Wigwe?
Herbert Wigwe’s wife, Doreen Chizoba Wigwe, was a lawyer and entrepreneur. As a lawyer, she specialized in corporate law, commercial litigation, and arbitration. Chizoba also founded Craneburg Construction Company – one of Nigeria’s largest construction groups with over 7,000 employees.
Chizoba’s father, Cyprian Chukwuemeka Nwuba, was a chartered accountant, while her mother was a civil servant in the education sector. The late Access Bank CEO’s wife was born on July 12, 1967, in Lagos State. She was 56 years old at the time of her death.
About Herbert Wigwe’s marriage to Doreen Chizoba Wigwe
Herbert Wigwe’s marriage to Chizoba Wigwe lasted for about 30 years with little or no scandal. The late couple reportedly first met in 1994, after Doreen returned to Nigeria for her National Youth Service Corps.
The late Access Bank CEO and his wife hooked up through a mutual friend and wedded within 4 months of their first meeting. Herbert Wigwe and his wife, Chizoba, made a cute couple during their lifetime. In fact, they seemed like a perfect match for each other.
List of Herbert Wigwe’s past relationships and girlfriends
As of the time of publishing this article, information about Herbert Wigwe’s past relationships or girlfriends is scarce in the media. However, in 2015, unconfirmed reports linked the banker to a female corps member named Eniola Ogunde. Then, in 2021, controversial blogger Cutie Juls alleged that Herbert Wigwe and Tiwa Savage were secretly dating.
About Herbert Wigwe’s kids
Late Herbert Wigwe reportedly had 5 children (two biological and three adopted kids) with his wife, Chizoba Wigwe. The names of their kids are Chizi (deceased), Tochi, Hannah, David, and Okachi.
Here are the full details about Herbert Wigwe’s children:
a. Chizi Wigwe
Chizi Wigwe was the first child and only biological son of Herbert and Chizoba Wigwe. He died alongside his parents in the helicopter crash. The Wigwes’ first son was born on January 30, 1995, in New York City. He was 29 years old at the time of his death in February 2024.
Chizi Wigwe was a senior analyst at Africa Finance Corporation (AFC). He was also a consultant for his mother’s construction company between 2018 and 2019. There is currently scarce information about Chizi being married or involved in a relationship.
b. Tochi Wigwe
Tochi Wigwe is the second child and only biological daughter of Herbert Wigwe and his wife. According to reports, she was born on September 12, 1997, hence Tochi is currently 26 years old. The late Access Bank CEO’s daughter is reportedly an economist and finance manager.
During her parents and brother’s funeral, Tochi read an emotional tribute to her father with tears rolling down her cheeks.
c. David, Hannah and Okachi Wigwe
David, Hannah, and Okachi Wigwe are the adopted kids of the late Herbert Wigwe and his wife, Chizoba. According to reports, the late couple adopted David first in the mid-2000s, and then Hannah joined the family a few years later.
Okachi Wigwe is the last adopted child of the Wigwes. They adopted him 3 to 4 years ago, reports say.
