By Paul Uduk
Herbert, his wife, and son, were laid to rest yesterday, exactly 30 days after they kissed earth goodbye.
Since Herbert’s passing, flags in the Nigerian financial services industry have been flying at half mast to honour his memory.
The depth of the tragedy will be felt for years to come, especially by members of his family, and aged parents.
Based on the outpouring of grief across the length and breadth of Nigeria and abroad, Herbert touched many lives and left worthy footprints in the sands of time.
Sadly in a few short weeks, people would have forgotten Herbert, because humans have short memories.
Who really was Herbert Wigwe? What did he stand for? What were his core values? What mattered most to him?
To most Nigerian elites, what matters to them to be counted a “success”, are fans, fame, and fortune.
The few impactful ones focus on significance, expressed in faith, family, and friends.
Herbert had all six: faith, family, friends, fans, fame, and fortune.
We will never know which mattered most to him, because he left no book behind. We can only hazard a guess.
Since Herbert’s death, seven books have been published in his memory; the first was released on 11 February, 2 days after his passing.
Regrettably, Herbert did not pen a book, which in the years to come will be regarded as a worse tragedy than his untimely demise.
For those of us in the banking fraternity and beyond left behind to mourn, let’s remember, time and tide waits for no one.
To remain in the hearts and minds of those left behind is not to die.
Let’s never forget, book is the best legacy.
Paul Uduk
#rememberingherbertwigwe
