Herbert Wigwe, the chief executive officer of Access Holdings, tweeted what many will describe as a premonition for his tragic death, 21 days before the helicopter crash in California, USA.
It reads:
“Today and always, let us remember that life is a precious gift – a chance to breathe, feel, love, experience and connect. Let’s honour this gift by living with purpose, kindness, and gratitude, making every moment count. Let us number our days,” he posted on January 20, 2024.
Little did he know that his days were indeed numbered, as he and five other people, including his wife and son, perished in a horrific helicopter accident on February 10, 2024.
Wigwe and his family were traveling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas in a Eurocopter EC130 helicopter when it crashed near Nipton, a small town close to the Nevada border.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the cause of the crash.
The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said it received a report of a downed aircraft at 10:12 p.m. and located the crash site east of the 15-Freeway, near Halloran Springs Road. No survivors were found as of Saturday morning, the department said in a statement.
Wigwe, 54, was the CEO of Access Holdings since 2014, one of Nigeria’s top five banking institutions. He transformed Access Bank, the flagship company of the group, into a pan-African financial institution with operations in 12 countries and over 40 million customers.
He was named the African Banker of the Year at the 2021 edition of the African Banker Awards for his role in driving innovation, growth, and social impact in the banking sector.
Wigwe was also a philanthropist who supported various causes, including education, health, and youth empowerment, through his Herbert Wigwe Foundation.
