Atedo Peterside Pays Glowing Tributes to Wigwe, Says He Was More Than a Banker

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Renowned banker and Chairman, Anap Jets, Atedo Peterside, has paid glowing tributes to his late friend, Mr Herbert Wigwe, who along with his wife and son recently lost their lives in a helicopter crash in the US.

Describing Wigwe as being more than a banker, Peterside recalled that on AriseTV, recently he described Herbert as “a Giver, Doer, Mentor, Visionary and Philanthropist”.

Noting that nothing has changed since then, Peterside pointed out that many lives, including his, had virtually stood still as they grapple to come to terms with the passing of Herbert, his wife (Chizoba), his son (Chizi) and close friend (Bimbo Ogunbanjo).

“I got to meet Herbert properly during my time as the Pioneer CEO of IBTC (now Stanbic IBTC) and quickly concluded that he would soon become a luminary in the banking sector.

 “I was right and he later joined our ranks as a bank entrepreneur. However, any attempt to focus exclusively on Herbert’s banking endeavours greatly diminishes this colossus. Herbert was more than a bank entrepreneur,” he stated in the tribute.

At Anap Jets, Peterside said it is believed that with Herbert’s passing, the organisation lost a gem of a client.

“He was a true believer in managerial excellence and challenged us to strive for greater heights in business aviation.  Many of us will remember Herbert forever on account of his numerous good works which transcend banking.

“Herbert was a catalyst for positive change in banking, in the arts world where he loomed large, and also, in music, film, sports, education etc. His audacious plans for Wigwe University captured our imagination and may well trigger a revolution in Nigeria’s higher education sector.

“Herbert was the youngest member of a Rivers State focused private group of 7 eminent persons which we called G7. The group has now been reduced to 6 persons. In my opinion, Herbert is irreplaceable and so I will be canvassing that we remain G7 with an honorary place kept for Herbert, because he will forever remain in our hearts.

“It is my sincere hope and prayer that the Wigwe family, Access Holdings, Access Bank, Wigwe University, HOW Foundation and all other endeavours that Herbert supported passionately continue to thrive,” he added.

 Peterside urged those impacted by his death to take solace in the fact that they are the custodians of his many good works which should continue to grow because, amongst other things, Herbert chose his associates well.

“Herbert, you will be fondly remembered forever by Capii – the G7 nickname that you gave me. You were the younger brother that I never had and will live forever in my heart. Good bye my friend and brother,” he wrote in the tribute.

See Atedo Peterside full tribute below.

On the Monday morning following that ill-fated helicopter crash in the USA, I decided to honour an AriseTV Morning Show Invitation to pay tribute to Herbert Wigwe. For me, it was a duty – something that I owed Herbert, the devastation of myself and my family notwithstanding.

On AriseTV, I described Herbert as “a Giver, Doer, Mentor, Visionary and Philanthropist”. Nothing has changed since then. Indeed, many lives (including mine) have virtually stood still as we grapple to come to terms with the passing of Herbert, his wife (Chizoba), his son (Chizi) and close friend (Bimbo Ogunbanjo). May their gentle souls rest in perfect peace.

I got to meet Herbert properly during my time as the Pioneer CEO of IBTC (now Stanbic IBTC) and quickly concluded that he would soon become a luminary in the banking sector. I was right and he later joined our ranks as a bank entrepreneur. However, any attempt to focus exclusively on Herbert’s banking endeavours greatly diminishes this collosus. Herbert was more than a bank entrepreneur.

At Anap Jets, we believe that, with Herbert’s passing, we lost a gem of a client. He was a true believer in managerial excellence and challenged us to strive for greater heights in business aviation.

Many of us will remember Herbert forever on account of his numerous good works which transcend banking.

Herbert was a catalyst for positive change in banking, in the arts world where he loomed large, and also, in music, film, sports, education etc. His audacious plans for Wigwe University captured our imagination and may well trigger a revolution in Nigeria’s higher education sector.

Herbert was the youngest member of a Rivers State focused private group of 7 eminent persons which we called G7. The group has now been reduced to 6 persons. In my opinion, Herbert is irreplaceable and so I will be canvassing that we remain G7 with an honorary place kept for Herbert, because he will forever remain in our hearts.

It is my sincere hope and prayer that the Wigwe family, Access Holdings, Access Bank, Wigwe University, HOW Foundation and all other endeavours that Herbert supported passionately continue to thrive. They should take solace in the fact that they are the custodians of his many good works which should continue to grow because, amongst other things, Herbert chose his associates well.

Herbert, you will be fondly remembered forever by Capii – the G7 nickname that you gave me. You were the younger brother that I never had and will live forever in my heart.

Good bye my friend and brother.

 Atedo N A Peterside CON

Chairman