Access Bank co‑founder Herbert Wigwe among six killed in a California helicopter crash

The victims included Herbert Wigwe, his wife, son, and the former president of the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu described Wigwe's death as an "overwhelming tragedy". Investigators have been scouring the desert location in southern California in an attempt to ascertain the cause of the crash.

The chartered helicopter departed Palm Springs bound for Boulder City in Nevada. It crashed around 60 miles (~97km rounded) away from Las Vegas. Nigerian media reported the 57-year-old banker was en route to Las Vegas to attend Sunday's Super Bowl.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department reported that the crash site was in close proximity to Nipton, on the fringes of the Mojave Desert Reserve. The environmental conditions were harsh, with reports of both rain and snow in the locale.

Wigwe established Access Bank in 1989. Following its acquisition of its main rival, Diamond Bank, in 2018, it became Nigeria's largest bank. Wigwe had focused on African expansion in recent years, procuring banks in Kenya, South Africa, and Botswana, according to the British portal.

As reported by the BBC, Wigwe was also contemplating initiation of a new banking service in Asia by the first quarter of 2024.

News of his death resulted in a wave of tribute and appreciation. President Tinubu described the events as "shocking and incomprehensible". The President's office characterised his passing as a "catastrophic loss" to both Nigeria's and Africa's banking sector.

Earlier this year, Wigwe proposed that investment in higher education could be instrumental in managing mass migration, which he said: "destabilizes countries around the world." He was in the process of founding his own academic establishment, Wigwe University. Its commencement was anticipated for September, located in Nigeria's oil-rich Niger Delta region, from where he originated.

"A comprehensive approach is required to tackle the global migration issue, starting from our traditional international development frameworks. The Mediterranean Sea, English Channel, or Rio Grande are not the best focal points to curb migration. Rather, it's the countries from which many migrants are desperate to escape." – Wigwe wrote, and stated that the university gave him an opportunity to "give back to society".

The bank labeled Wigwe as a "visionary leader", leaving behind a legacy of "excellence and compassion".

"Herbert's visionary leadership and relentless commitment to initiatives that benefit society have left an ineffaceable impression on Access Holdings and the communities we serve. His legacy will always be remembered" – as stated by Bank X's official statement.