Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, expressed his commitment on Monday to immortalise the late founder of Access Bank, Herbert Wigwe, who was born at the Island Maternity Hospital in the state.

Sanwo-Olu made this pledge during an event held on Monday night to celebrate the professional legacy of the late Group Chief Executive of Access Corporation, Dr Herbert Wigwe. The event, titled “Celebrating Herbert Wigwe – A Professional Legacy,” consisted of six segments focusing on different aspects of Wigwe’s life: Young Herbert, the banker, the entrepreneur, the CEO, the builder, and the ambassador.

The governor shared details of his last conversation with Wigwe on Thursday, February 8, where they discussed ambitious ideas. Sanwo-Olu expressed the significance of this conversation, stating, “This was the last conversation that I will keep on my phone for a long time.”

Sanwo-Olu praised Wigwe as a man who always had inspiring stories and wholeheartedly supported various projects initiated by his administration. He acknowledged Wigwe’s role in pushing him to take on new challenges and described him as one of the earliest and most generous supporters of his political ambition.

The governor highlighted Wigwe’s remarkable generosity, including his words of encouragement, and discussed how Wigwe collaborated with other partners to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sanwo-Olu expressed his deep sense of loss, stating, “I have indeed lost a great friend.”

Sanwo-Olu emphasized that if birthplace held significance, Wigwe should be considered of Isale Eko origin, but he also acknowledged that Wigwe’s impact extended far beyond geographical borders. He reassured that Lagos would not forget Herbert Wigwe and pledged support to his family.