News

Don’t Let Wigwe’s Legacies Die, China Appeals To Partners, Bank

Published

2 years ago

February 14, 2024

Deaths of some legends can be turned to gains, so declared an investor and entrepreneurial icon, the Mayor of Housing.
This is as the financial icon, Dr Herbert Wigwe, is not dead yet, except his vision and projects are allowed to die, according to the Mayor of Housing, My-ACE China.
China was reacting to the spreading shock of the death of the CEO of Access Holdings Plc, Dr Herbert Wigwe, along with his wife, Chizoba Doreen and son, Chizi, in a chopper crash in the US aroind 10:30pm on Friday night, February 9, 2024.
The deaths and those of three other occupants of the helicopter have been confirmed by US aviation authorities and Access Holdings Plc in Nigeria.
Wigwe was a honed accountant, who began his career in the highly tested and trusted Coopers & Lybrand Associates, a global company of Chartered Accountants, from where he joined the Guaranty Trust Bank, and worked for over a decade before joining Access Bank Plc.
He forged a close association and partnership with Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and some other top brains to acquire the bank, and has since transformed the financial institution to an international financial powerhouse.
The Mayor of Housing, however, that the best approach to this tragedy is to turn it into positives by looking up to Herbert Wigwe’s vision and legacies, and cementing them further to make him live on.
In a statement in Port Harcourt, the Mayor of Housing and CEO of the Housing & Construction Mayor Limited, My-ACE China, said he has contacted Herbert Wigwe’s partners and those associated with his dreams so as to galvanise them into making the dreams of the legend to live on.
He said: “Immediately after news of the crash in the US and the passing of the high profile Nigerian CEO and Rivers-born Dr Herbert Wigwe, I started looking up his partners, those associated with his dreams, and the construction partners at the Wigwe University to encourage them to keep hope alive. I know that men of vision, or legends, don’t die until their legacies die. So, Dr Herbert Wigwe is not dead, yet.
“So, I immediately started looking up those whose onus and opportunity it is to sustain his dreams and make sure that Dr Herbert Wigwe does not die.”
He stated that, “Dr Herbert Wigwe will die the day Wigwe University is dead; the day Access Bank Plc stops being a leading financial institution in the world; the day all the wonderful partnerships he has brokered between Access Holdings Plc and other companies globally and in Africa die; or the day all the acquisitions by Access Holdings Plc he has helped to acquire die.”
He insisted that “Access Holdings Plc is not a one-man dream, the Wigwe University concept is not a one-man dream, Herbert Wigwe is not a lone-man project, he has got partners, and he has got associates.”
According to him, “The onus is on them to ensure that the dreams do not die.”
Enumerating three ways Herbert Wigwe could possibly die, China stated: “If they let his vision die, then they have actually let him die; if they let his vision live and succeed, they have let him live; and if they propagate and exponentially build these dreams beyond the wildest imaginations of Herbert Wigwe himself, they would have not only made him live on but they would have immortalized him and his legacies.”
He recalled his quotes about legends and death thus: “I have a quote that says ‘legends don’t die, they only live as long as their legacies last’. Herbert Wigwe is not dead but he has left us a legacy of excellence, a legacy of performance, a legacy of visionary leadership, a legacy of exponential partnership, and a legacy of resilience in the face of hardship. All we can do is to put hands together to make sure Herbert Wigwe doesn’t die the real death.”
So, he declared, “all associates, all customers of Access Bank Plc, all workers, everybody that is associated in keeping his legacies alive, they must rally round and make sure this legend does not die.
“All I can say is: Herbert Wigwe is not dead, but if we want him to die, we let his dreams die. If we make his dreams live, he lives, but if we allow his dreams die, he then dies. If we make his dreams live beyond his wildest imaginations, then we would have made him live and live. So, let’s make Herbert Wigwe live on.”
The Mayor of Housing said he did not meet Herbert Wigwe face-to-face but that he has met some of his staff that revealed much about him, his visionary leadership, and his striving for excellence.
“I don’t know a lot but I know of one thing that is required to be a leader: the only way to lead is by example. One thing I have heard about Herbert Wigwe that I hold dearly is that if he asks you to do one thing 10 times, he does it 12 times. That shows he is a leader that acts in the front.
“We have other leaders that dish out commands from the back but would not do one tenth of what they ask you to do. But Dr Herbert Wigwe is a performance-leader, and such species of homo sapiens are rare. In fact, if we live the life of the likes of Dr Herbert Wigwe, we would not be busy weeping, but if we strive to sustain his dreams and legacies, he would then live on.”

By: Nelson Chukwudi

News

HoS Hails Fubara Over Provision of Accommodation for Permanent Secretaries

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Head of Service (HoS) of Rivers State, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi S. I. Brown, has commended Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, for approving befitting accommodation for Permanent Secretaries in the state.

This commendation was contained in a press release made available to newsmen in Port Harcourt.

According to the Head of Service, Governor Fubara has continued to demonstrate uncommon commitment to the welfare of civil servants in Rivers State, stressing that such gestures underscore his people-oriented leadership style. She urged civil servants across the state to remain supportive of the governor’s administration in order to sustain good governance and effective public service delivery.

Speaking on behalf of the Body of Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Brown congratulated Governor Fubara on the occasion of his 51st birthday, describing him as “a Governor who leads by serving.”

She further praised the governor’s service-driven and people-centred leadership approach, noting that it has significantly contributed to institutional stability and improved efficiency within the state’s public service. Special appreciation was expressed for the approval of a befitting accommodation complex for Permanent Secretaries, which she said reflects the governor’s commitment to staff welfare and enhanced productivity.

As part of activities to mark the governor’s birthday, the Body of Permanent Secretaries announced the sponsorship of 329 Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms for indigent students across the state.

A breakdown of the initiative shows that 319 forms will be distributed across the 319 political wards in Rivers State, while five forms are allocated to non-indigenes and five forms to persons living with disabilities.

Interested applicants are advised to contact the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, for further details.

The Body of Permanent Secretaries wished Governor Fubara continued good health, divine wisdom, and greater accomplishments in his service to the people of Rivers State.

By John Bibor

News

Allegation of Disrespect to President Tinubu Unfounded — Rivers Government

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The attention of the Rivers State Government has been drawn to a statement credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), purportedly authored by one Bestman Innocent Amadi, alleging that the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS, removed the official portrait of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, from the Government House, Port Harcourt.

For the avoidance of doubt, the Rivers State Government wishes to categorically state that there is no policy, directive, or intention on the part of the government or the Governor that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government.

On the contrary, the Rivers State Government, under the leadership of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, currently enjoys a robust, cordial, and collaborative relationship with the Federal Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Renewed Hope Agenda—a partnership that is already yielding positive and tangible benefits for the people of Rivers State.

Consequently, the insinuation that the Governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” is misleading, irresponsible, inflammatory, and entirely unsupported by verifiable facts, and should therefore be disregarded by the public.

It is regrettable that a body expected to promote youth unity, peace, and responsible engagement would resort to incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated claims capable of overheating the polity at a time when Rivers State requires calm, dialogue, and mature leadership.

The Rivers State Government therefore calls on well-meaning members of the public, particularly its esteemed and hardworking youths, to disregard and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups bent on advancing divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Rivers State belongs to all of us. Political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, peace, and the collective pursuit of progress.

Members of the public are further urged to remain vigilant and avoid lending credence to inflammatory statements or the activities of fifth columnists pursuing dubious agendas aimed at sowing discord.

Here is a clean, professional, publication-ready edit of your report with improved flow, clarity, and SEO strength while retaining all facts:

News

Rivers Government Dismisses Allegations of Disrespect to President Tinubu

Published

2 days ago

February 2, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Government has dismissed as unfounded and misleading allegations that Governor Sir Siminalayi Fubara removed the official portrait of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu from the Government House in Port Harcourt.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the state government reacted to claims credited to an acclaimed Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), describing the allegation as false, irresponsible, and unsupported by any verifiable facts.

The government clarified that it has no policy, directive, or intention that disrespects the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria or undermines the authority of the Federal Government. It emphasized that Governor Fubara maintains a cordial, respectful, and collaborative relationship with President Tinubu and the Federal Government.

According to the statement, the relationship between Rivers State and the Federal Government has grown stronger under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with tangible benefits and positive impacts already being felt by residents of the state.

The Rivers State Government described insinuations that the governor acted out of “ingratitude” or “disrespect” as deliberately provocative, noting that such claims are capable of misleading the public and unnecessarily heating up the polity.

It further expressed concern that an organization expected to promote youth unity and peace would engage in what it termed incendiary language, personal attacks, and unsubstantiated accusations at a time when the state requires calm, dialogue, and responsible leadership.

The government called on well-meaning members of the public, especially the youths of Rivers State, to disregard the claims and dissociate themselves from individuals or groups spreading divisive rhetoric and falsehoods for political purposes.

Reaffirming its commitment to peace, unity, and progress, the state government stressed that political differences must never be allowed to override truth, civility, and the collective interest of the people.

Members of the public were also urged to remain vigilant and not give attention to inflammatory statements or individuals described as fifth columnists bent on causing division within the state.