General
Emotions Pour as Dignitaries Eulogise Late Herbert Wigwe
By Adedapo Adesanya
It was an emotional rollercoaster at the tribute event held on Monday night to celebrate the late group chief executive of Access Holdings Plc, Mr Herbert Wigwe.
Dignitaries from government, corporate organisations, and royalty paid tribute to the late titan who died alongside his wife, son, and a former group chairman of the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Group Plc, Mr Abimbola Ogunbajo, on February 9 in the United States.
The event which was monitored by Business Post was divided into six segments – Young Hebert, the banker, the entrepreneur, the CEO, the builder and the ambassador.
These personalities relished adventurous and courageous stories from Wigwe’s early childhood and later his successful sojourn and success stories from GTBank and later the acquisition of Access Bank.
A friend of the deceased, Mr Aliko Dangote, was in tears as well as Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, his long-term business partner and co-founder of Access Bank and Mr Femi Otedola, in an emotion-laden voice, also expressed the qualities of Mr Wigwe.
Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, who first spoke for the governors reiterated his encounter with the late banker.
“It is a tough season for all of us,” Mr Abiodun said, noting that “words were not enough to describe how larger than life Wigwe was as he achieved so much within a short lifetime.”
“Herbert was loyal to his friends, way ahead of his time ever forward-looking,” he stated.
He said Mr Wigwe believed in the country Nigeria, and he was patriotic, adding that he met him about 30 years ago and thanked Wigwe for believing in him and being supportive of his programmes and projects.
He also said the projects included Gateway International Airport and the Epe/Ijebu-Ode Road projects, among others.
He described Mr Wigwe as a bridge builder, selfless, bold and courageous. He said it still felt like a bad dream that Herbert was gone, saying he was happy he honoured the invitation to see Mr Wigwe’s new home.
He disclosed that Mr Wigwe had a street named after him in Beirut, the capital of Lebanon saying, “he lived more than a life in one lifetime.
In an unprepared speech, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos narrated his last conversation with Wigwe on Thursday, February 8, where lofty ideas were discussed.
“This was the last conversation that I will keep on my phone for a long time,” he said.
He promised to immortalise the late founder of Access Bank, Dr Herbert Wigwe, who was born at the Island Maternity Hospital in the state.
He said that Wigwe was a man who always had good stories and supported several projects of his administration driving him to take up new challenges.
“Herbert was one of the very first people that supported my ambition generously,” he added.
He said it was unbelievable how a man could give so much, including his words of encouragement. Sanwo-Olu revealed how Wigwe collaborated with other partners to cushion the effects of COVID-19 during the dreaded global pandemic.
“Herbert led from the front, encouraged and stood with the state government. I have indeed lost a big friend,” he added.
He said Mr Wigwe and Mr Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the former group managing director of Access Bank, took a trip with him to Cairo to pursue visions of Lagos.
He also said Mr Wigwe had a special history of Isale Eko, and Lagos would immortalise him, haven being born in Island Maternity Hospital.
He said if places of birth mattered, Mr Wigwe should be of Isale Eko origin, noting, “Herbert has transcended beyond borders.
“Lagos will not forget Herbert Wigwe. We will support the family,” he said.
The Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun, narrated Mr Wigwe’s contributions to sports and various sectors, including supporting his personal and family visions.
“Herbert gave me his time and thinking, what I valued most; the man is never short of ideas,” he noted.
Mr Olayemi Cardoso, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN), lauded Mr Wigwe’s hard work, broad knowledge base and role in shaping banking reforms further.
He said that Mr Wigwe’s commitment to reform and his genuine concern for the well-being of Nigerians garnered significant recognition.
The CBN Governor said he and the deceased recently discussed the way out of the country’s economic impasse, adding that the banker’s demise had left a vacuum in the banking sector and the economy.
On his part, the former CBN Governor, Mr Lamido Sanusi, emphasised the immense value of Wigwe’s contributions and the challenges that could arise in finding a suitable replacement.
Mr Sanusi recognised Mr Wigwe’s influence and the long-lasting imprint of his work, saying that further solidified the remarkable nature of his contributions.
For Mr Ibrahim Dankwambo, the former Senator for Gombe North and former governor of Gombe State, eulogised saying “from Him we come, to Him we shall return” and reeled out good times with the late founder, saying he was handed over to him as a brother by his father.
Mr Dankwambo, a former Accountant-General of the Federation, shared hilarious moments and described Mr Wigwe as a detribalised Nigerian.
Tributes of President Bola Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, President Emmanuel Macron of France, and former US President Bill Clinton were read at the event.
Also, friends, associations, professional colleagues, Access Bank management from Nigeria, Ghana, and the UK as well as staff took turns to eulogise the patriotism, friendship, and mentorship qualities of Wigwe.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About $20 million has been put down by Swedfund to support efforts that limit climate change in Africa and help communities adapt to its effects.
The funds would be deployed by the Helios Climate, Energy, Adaptation and Resilience (CLEAR) Fund to back African companies that reduce emissions, strengthen resilience and create green jobs.
Swedfund’s investment is expected to contribute to significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and to help businesses and small farmers adapt to a changing climate.
The investment strengthens Swedfund’s work to drive a sustainable and inclusive green transition in Africa.
Africa contributes less than 3 per cent of global carbon emissions but faces some of the most severe climate impacts. At the same time, the continent’s energy demand is expected to triple by 2050.
Swedfund’s investment in Helios CLEAR will help channel capital to businesses that drive low-carbon growth in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable transport, climate-smart farming, efficient use of resources and digital climate solutions.
“By investing in this sector, we can reduce emissions, build resilience and create green jobs, all vital for sustainable growth that benefits more people.
“Africa currently receives only a small share of global climate investment, yet the potential for climate-smart business is enormous.
“Through Helios CLEAR we help build the next generation of African climate-focused businesses,” the Investment Director for Energy and Climate at Swedfund, Ms Gunilla Nilsson, stated.
Helios CLEAR Fund is a Pan African growth equity fund managed by Helios Investment Partners, one of Africa’s leading private equity firms.
The fund targets investments that deliver measurable climate mitigation and adaptation outcomes. The fund is supported by multiple development finance institutions.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A member of the House of Representatives, Mr Abdussamad Dasuki, has alleged that the gazetted tax laws are different from the ones passed by the National Assembly.
Speaking on Wednesday during plenary at the green chamber, the opposition lawmaker the emphasised that content of the tax laws as gazetted was not what members of the parliament debated, voted on and passed.
In June 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed the four tax reform bills into law, becoming an act. The new laws are the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA), 2025, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), 2025, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act (NRSEA), 2025, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act (JRBEA), 2025.
In September, they were gazetted by the federal government.
On the floor of the House yesterday, presided over by the Speaker, Mr Tajudeed Abbas, Mr Dasuki, while raising a matter of privilege, after reviewing the gazetted law and what was passed, he found out some discrepancies, appealing to the Speaker to ensure that all relevant documents, including the harmonised versions, the votes and proceedings of both chambers, and the gazetted copies currently in circulation, are brought before the Committee of the Whole for scrutiny by all members.
He warned that allowing laws different from those duly passed by the National Assembly to be presented to Nigerians would undermine the integrity of the legislature and violate constitutional provisions.
“Mr. Speaker, I will be pleading that all the documents should be brought before the Committee of the Whole.
“The whole members should see what is in the gazetted copy and see what they passed on the floor so that we can make the relevant amendment. Mr Speaker, this is the breach of the Constitution.
“This is the breach of our laws, and this should not be taken by this House,” Mr Dasuki said when rising under Order Six, Rule Two of the House Rules on a Point of Privilege.
In his remarks, Mr Abbas promised that the parliament would look into the matter.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Over 90 illegal mining sites have been reclaimed and 300 offenders prosecuted since the deployment of the Mining Marshals, a specialised task force established to secure Nigeria’s mineral assets.
This information was disclosed by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, at the South West Leaders Conference held recently in Akure, the Ondo state capital.
He described the crackdown as a turning point in the battle against mineral theft and insecurity in mining communities.
“We created the Mining Marshals to tackle insecurity and illegal mining head-on. I’m proud to say that peace is returning to our mining fields,” he said.
According to Mr Alake, the initiative has strengthened investor confidence and improved government revenue.
“When you protect the minerals, you protect national wealth. That’s exactly what we’ve done with the Mining Marshals,” he stated.
He noted that beyond arrests and reclamations, the Marshals have restored safety in key mining corridors and curbed the activities of illegal foreign operators. “We are taking back control of our natural resources from criminal networks,” Mr Alake emphasised.
The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining the momentum through digital surveillance, stronger local intelligence, and inter-agency coordination.
“Our success proves that security is the bedrock of sustainable mining. We will keep refining this model until every site in Nigeria is safe, legal, and productive,” he added.
Launched last year, the marshals were given the mandate to stem theft and all nefarious activities around the nation’s minerals so that benefits are not extracted by the wrong people.
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