Oando Plc Group Chief Executive, Jubril Adewale Tinubu, has paid tribute to his late friend and businessman, Herbert Wigwe, on what would have been Wigwe’s 60th birthday, reflecting on their friendship and shared ambition.
In a tribute shared on Saturday, Tinubu recalled the lasting impact of their relationship and the business ideas they exchanged over the years.
“Some friendships leave behind an instinct that time does not erase,” Tinubu wrote.
Tinubu remembered Wigwe as a businessman with a strong eye for opportunity and the courage to pursue bold ideas.
“Herbert had a remarkable eye for opportunity, exceptional acumen in deal-making and the courage to pursue bold ideas,” he said.
According to Tinubu, Wigwe understood that meaningful growth often required moving beyond established boundaries to explore new possibilities.
The Oando CEO said the two shared a drive to build and a belief in what could be achieved through collaboration.
“We shared an ambition to build, the courage to venture beyond the familiar and a belief that extraordinary things are possible when people dare greatly together,” Tinubu said.
Wigwe was born on August 15, 1966. He was the co-founder of Access Bank and later served as Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings.
He died on February 9, 2024, alongside his wife, Chizoba Wigwe, their son, Chizi, and former chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, in a helicopter crash near Nipton, California, in the United States.
Wigwe’s death at the age of 57 drew tributes across Nigeria’s business, political and financial communities. He was widely recognized for his role in expanding Access Bank and for investments in education, technology and entrepreneurship.
For Tinubu, the remembrance remains personal.
“Time has not diminished it. I do not expect it ever will,” he wrote.
“Thinking of you today, my friend,” Tinubu added.
The tribute marks what would have been Wigwe’s 60th birthday and offers a glimpse into the personal relationships behind Nigeria’s corporate landscape.
