On Wednesday night, Tochi Wigwe, the late Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc and daughter of Dr. Herbert Wigwe, offered a moving eulogy to her father.
Tochi offered her condolences to the 57-year-old during the Night of Tributes at the Eko Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, along with a number of other friends and family members.
On Monday, March 4, 2024, the burial rites for Wigwe, his wife, and his kid began.
They died a few weeks earlier in an American helicopter mishap.
“When I used to tell my father how much I detested public speaking, he would try to persuade me that he shared my sentiments. But I’m going to do my best to be courageous since it’s just something he had to do,” Tochi declared while standing on stage with a few of her pals by her side.
“For the first time, just now, your words really speak to me. I no longer wish to squint my eyes and tilt my head in bewilderment. You were just amazing,” she continued.
She remembered her father as being ambitious, tenacious, and consistently going above and above.
“You inspired me to do things I never would have thought possible. You used to chuckle knowingly and tell me, “You really just don’t know whose child you are, but you’ll soon find out,” whenever uncertainty entered my thoughts. You were correct once more: I’ve come to learn.
“It seemed impossible to me how you accomplished everything. I could never understand.” Being a steadfast support system for your loved ones and transforming everything you come into contact with into gold,” she continued.
She also related how, while she was studying abroad, her father flew to see her for a brief visit.
You didn’t care about distance at all.
“On a whim, you crossed continents just to spend a few minutes with me before returning to your duties,” she said.
Tochi observed that these proved his unwavering and unceasing affection.
She described her father as an equality activist and a feminist.
He said that my mother Hannah and I were the most attractive people, and that I also had the nickname “pretty.”
“Someone who will make me wave in every picture; someone who will have long discussions with my friends and me during flights to Cape Town; someone who will ask, ‘What are they saying about me online today?'” And who is going to ask me what I think of Wigwe University?
“You were Paradox; a strong tower with a silky-soft heart. You never have to speak up to me without phoning me an hour later to say you’re sorry.
“Your impact went well beyond our immediate family.
“You urged my pals to raise their hopes by skillfully persuading them that their destiny lied in Nigeria.
“You’ve given me a great deal of responsibility, but you’ve also given me a dependable support system.
I will always be appreciative of the care with which you cultivated your connections and the guidance and protection you gave me.
“With all of my love, Mama T, also known as, I ache for the day we will be reunited to restart our treasured gossip sessions and to continue our pep talks about life and everything in between. Your Pretty,” she said in closing.
The combined service of songs at RCCG, Ressurection Parish, 1 Ressurection Drive, 1st Gate, Jakande Estate, Km 15 Lekki, is scheduled for 10 a.m. today, Thursday, March 7, 2024, as part of the ongoing funeral ceremonies.
The Christian Wake-Keeping is scheduled for Friday, March 8, at 7 p.m. at Wigwe University, Isiokpo, Rivers State.
On Saturday, March 9, at 10 a.m., the Combined Funeral Service will take place at RCCG, Lion of Judah Parish, Isiokpo.
The burial will take place in private on Saturday, March 9.
On Sunday, March 10, 2024, at 10:00 am, the last outing service will take place at RCCG, Lion of Judah Parish, Isiokpo.
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