News

Atiku, Ibori, Obaseki Mourn Passing Of Access Bank CEO, Herbert Wigwe

Published

1 year ago

February 11, 2024

Nigerians was thrown into Mourning when it was reported that MD/CEO of Access Bank Holdings, Dr. Herbert Wigwe was on board with about five others believed to be his wife, son and Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the group chairman of Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group), when the helicopter crashed.

Sources said the chopper was headed to Las Vegas when it crashed near a border city between Nevada and California on Friday night.

It was also noticed that Herbert Wigwe and the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, were absent at the Access Bank Lagos Marathon on Saturday.

The governor was represented by his deputy, Obafemi Hamzat.

US officials had said the helicopter crashed near Nipton on the edge of the Mojave Desert late on Friday evening.

Meanwhile, the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki and other well meaning Nigerians have said that they were shocked and devastated over the death of Herbert Wigwe, his family, and Ogunbanjo.

In a press statement by the governor, made available to the journalists on Saturday in Benin, he said, “The news of the passing of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Bank Holdings, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, who died in a helicopter crash in the United States of America has left me extremely shocked and devastated.

“We also unfortunately lost Wigwe’s wife and son as well as the former group chairman of Nigeria Stock Exchange, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, in the crash.

“The tragic incident is painful and heart-wrenching and we pray for God’s abiding comfort in this profoundly difficult time.

“Wigwe was a colossus in Nigeria’s financial sector, leading Access Bank to become an international brand that placed Nigeria on the global map of first-class financial services.

“I commiserate with the Wigwe family, the Ogunbanjo family, Access Bank Holding, the Nigeria Stock Exchange, friends, and associates and pray that God will grant all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Atiku, Ibori Mourn:

Former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has expressed sadness over the death of the Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Herbert Wigwe.

Wigwe, alongside his wife, son and three others were reported to have died in a helicopter crash in the United States of America on Saturday morning (Nigeria time).

The accident also claimed the former group chairman of Nigeria Stock Exchange, Abimbola Ogunbanjo.

Atiku in a condolence message on his verified Instagram handle on Saturday night described the incident as a great loss.

According to him, “I’m deeply saddened to hear about the unfortunate incident that led to the loss of Herbert Wigwe, Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, and his family.

“Indeed, Herbert Wigwe, consummate banker, education promoter, and philanthropist, numbered his days. On behalf of my family, my heart goes out to their loved ones and everyone affected by this unfortunate incident. May their souls rest in peace.”

On his part, a former governor of Delta State, Chief James Ibori, also described the accident as a tragedy while commiserating with the families of the deceased.

Ibori wrote on his verified Instagram handle, “Noooooooooooooooo Herbert! What a tragedy! Chizoba(Ibo), Herbert, true soul mates even in death!! Rest well comrades! Rest well!!”

Meanwhile, Edo state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who said he was devastated by the death of the banker, described the helicopter as a high regrettable crash.

Obaseki in a statement said, “The news of the passing of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Access Bank Holdings, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, who died in a helicopter crash in the United States of America has left me extremely shocked and devastated.

“We also unfortunately lost Wigwe’s wife and son as well as the former group chairman of Nigeria Stock Exchange, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, in the crash.

“The tragic incident is painful and heart wrenching and we pray for God’s abiding comfort in this profoundly difficult time.

“Wigwe was a colossus in Nigeria’s financial sector, leading Access Bank to become an international brand that placed Nigeria on the global map of first class financial services.

“I commiserate with the Wigwe family, the Ogunbanjo family, Access Bank Holding, the Nigeria Stock Exchange, friends and associates and pray that God will grant all the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

News

Malnutrition Cost Nigeria $1.5bn Yearly- Rep Okafor

Published

1 hour ago

July 9, 2025

Gloria Ikibah

…as Nigeria rank 2nd globally

By Gloria Ikibah

Chairman House Committee on Food and Nutrition, Rep. Chike Okafor, has said that malnutrition in the Nigeria cost the nation about 1.5 billion dollars annually.

Re. Okafor who stated this at the ongoing National summit on nutrition and food security on Wednesday in Abuja, said the summit was organised to profer solutions to halt the growing concerns about the effect of malnutrition and lack of adequate food on Nigerians.

He added that beyond the health effects of malnutrition and lack of food which include Stunting, low birth weight, Anaemia in children, adolescent girls and women, there is a considerable cost economically.

According to him, the cost of inaction on these parameters on the Nigeria’s economy is aggregated to about 12.2% of the Country’s Gross National Income, about $56b, based on data from Nutrition International and the World Bank.

He said: “Food insecurity has been aggravated by post-harvest loss, estimated at $2b by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), yearly, this colossal loss alone is more than the Nutrition budget of the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Education and Women Affairs put together.

“This continued loss is not only unacceptable, but unsustainable given the austere times in which we currently live. On the above premise my committee is working with those in the 36 states of the federation to do things differently.

“First of all, we are undertaking strategic capacity building sessions to have a better understanding of the root and dynamics of current nutrition and food security challenges in Nigeria. A wise man once said that once you are not informed, you are deformed.

“We are hoping that the capacity building sessions are institutionalized in partnership with the National Institute of Democratic and Legislative Studies, with support from our ever helpful development partners.

“This will put us in a better pedestal to provide strategic oversight to all nutrition and food related interventions and implementing partners, including but not limited to the UN family, the World Bank, International and National NGOs, and of course the government at Federal, State and Local Government levels. By so doing, we will not only have more money for nutrition, but also more nutrition for the available money”.

In her remarks, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Uju Anwukah said Nigeria currently ranks second on the global scale of malnutrition and the first on the African continent.

Anwukah who spoke on the topic: “Strengthening Nutrition Co-ordination in Nigeria through the N-774 Initiative”, explained that Nigeria signed up on the N-774 initiative as a way of addressing malnutrition right from the grassroot level, adding that the initiative has been endorsed by the National Council on Food security and the Nigerian Governors Forum.

News

Ghanaian Photographer Buried in Camera-Designed Casket as Tribute to His Passion

Published

3 hours ago

July 9, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

A Ghanaian photographer has captured worldwide attention after being buried in a casket designed in the shape of a camera — a symbolic tribute to his lifelong dedication to photography.

The unique burial was revealed in a post on X (formerly Twitter) by user @eddie_wrt, who shared a video of the poignant ceremony.

In the footage, pallbearers are seen carrying the camera-shaped coffin to the gravesite, honoring the late photographer in a deeply personal and creative way.

The video quickly went viral, sparking emotional reactions online as users praised the powerful tribute and shared messages of admiration.

See some reactions below:

@Wee3ny3: “Don’t try to die now wait make this generation finish before you do.”

@AmanorJulious: “Diogo Jota make lucky say he no be Ghanaian like no be small football boot.”

@evils_only: “Eiiiiii Ghana oooooooh nooooooo. Who even brought this style.”

News

Deadline for Hajj 2026 registration extended by 48hrs

Published

3 hours ago

July 9, 2025

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The deadline for Hajj 2026 registration has been extended by two 48hours.

According to Spokesperson of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Haromy Muhammad Umar Butt, the registration will now continue by Friday through designated banks and the Ministry’s online portal.

He said this decision was made in response to requests from intending pilgrims to keep the registration process open until Friday. He said so far, 313,000 individuals have completed their registration for next year’s Hajj. The expenses and other terms and conditions for Hajj 2026 will be issued separately in accordance with the official Hajj policy.