From the Shadows to The Spotlight…Will Access Bank MD, Roosevelt Ogbonna, Now Find His Voice?

– How He Was Concealed by Late Herbert Wigwe’s Imposing Image

By Babaji Ogundele

Nobody knew Roosevelt Ogbonna until very recently. The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Access Bank worked in the shadow of his late boss, Herbert Wigwe, like the proverbial grunt worker who must neither be heard nor seen.

Despite his top position at Access Bank, he crept discretely within and outside the boardroom, like a titan in disguise. Ogbonna could not assert his name and role in ensuring the smooth operations of the bank as he would have to contend with the larger-than-life image of his boss and late CEO, Access Holdings of the bank, Wigwe.

Indeed, an ounce of loyalty is worth a cache of pearls. But where loyalty tips the scale, the allegiant may curry unimaginable favours from the recipient of his devotion – including the latter’s trust.

Little wonder Ogbonnaya enjoyed the unflinching trust of his late boss. If the patient dog truly eats the fattest bone, loyalty may get it a potful of gristle. His loyalty to Wigwe knows no bounds; so devoted was he to Wigwe that the latter must assent any decision he takes as MD of Access. Anyone seeking to do business with Access must, first, seek a backdoor approach through Wigwe to get Ogbonna to play ball.

Even after he had initially refused access and the bank’s facilities to a client, if the latter could manage to secure Wigwe’s support, and get him to call Ogbonna, the business will sail through.

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But despite his seeming obsequiousness to Herbert, Ogbonna is hardly a stooge. Contrary to scathing rumours about him, he was not a doormat to him, he was simply loyal and appreciative of the opportunity given him by the latter to rise through the competitive cadres of the bank.

Now that Wigwe and his family have been buried, and he has crossed over to the divine plane, freighted with reward for his deeds and sweet repose, however, Ogbonna is poised to discard his invisible cloak and find his voice within and outside the boardroom. But would he, in time, mutate, like a feral dog against its master, grunting and growling, his spirit lashing out, while he claws at the sleeves of his benefactor? To this, Ogbonna would scream a resounding ‘No!’ Only time will tell!

Ogbonna was appointed as Access Bank’s MD/CEO effective May 2022. Before this, he was appointed as the Bank’s Deputy Managing Director in 2017 and Executive Director in 2013.

He is a thoroughbred and consummate professional with over two (2) decades of banking experience having joined Access Bank in 2002 from Guaranty Trust Bank.

He has a robust corporate board experience and currently serves as a Non-Executive Director of the Bank’s subsidiaries in UK and South Africa. He also represents the Bank on the Boards of its investee companies – African Finance Corporation and CSCS Plc.

There is no gainsaying that Ogbonna’s journey to the summit of the banking sector is a testament to his exceptional skills, unswerving focus, and strategic acumen. Despite his reserved nature, his achieve­ments speak volumes about his professionalism and dedication to driving success.

Access Bank can pride itself on having a leader like Ogbonna, whose silent demeanor is matched only by his remarkable achievements in the industry.

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