By Omonu YG Nelson
The Senior Pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of David, Lagos,
Pastor Idowu Iluyomade has revealed that the late businessman, philanthropist and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Access Holdings Limited, Herbert Wigwe and his wife, Chizoba, were dedicated to the service of God and humanity with their reources.
Iluyomade, who made this revelation during a Church Service in Lagos, highlighted Wigwe’s contributions to the Church
Full text of the sermon below:
HERBERT WIGWE: FOR HE LOVETH OUR NATION AND HE HATH BUILT US A SYNAGOGUE
Luke 7:5
Herbert Wigwe had a heart for God and Eternity in Sight.
He partnered with the Church by giving N500 million for raising Christian talents
He gave one billion naira interest free rate loan facility towards the Trinity Towers Church building project
His life was profitable unto God
Pastor Idowu Iluyomade Senior Pastor
Redeemed Christian Church of God, City of David, Lagos
Herbert (Wigwe) an amazing man of God, a brother, a friend, he had a heart for the things of God. It was as if he was in a hurry. He did a lot of good works. Church Gist. He had eternity in sight. The only thing that follows us when we pass are good works.
His life has challenged us. I remember when we wanted to build a school at Makoko for the indigent students, I wanted to (and will still do) pay the teachers, feed the children everyday, feed them. Church Gist. We will be doing that for years but when we wanted to do it, he came up and he said he wanted to partner with us and together, his foundation (Herbert Wigwe Foundation) and the City of David, we partnered and we were able to build the Makoko School that endures till today.
We wanted to start ‘God’s Children Talents’, he partnered with us again. While we spent (I think) about 300 million, he spent about 500 (million) to raise talents. Church Gist. He had a heart for the things of God. Scholarship for children, he adopted a lot of children, pays their school fees, takes care of them.
Do you know that for years, he has been quietly paying the stipend (or salary) of the Classical Choir? It’s amazing. For years – every month, he was paying them. Christmas concert – singlehandedly, he will fund them. Church Gist. He did a great work in this place and I am sure as he is doing here, he is doing it all over. A blessing to God and humanity. His life was profitable unto God…and he comes with our Chairman and his lovely wife, Chairman of the Building Fund, together we are all on various committees. He was the Chairman of the Finance Committee with Pastor Siju…and I remember that we wanted to start the fund raising, he took us to Eko Atlantic, brought a mackie, paid for everything, brought people from (I think) America to come and sing and that event, we raised about 600 million.
One would’ve thought he would sit back. He kept going. He told me we would do it. When this place was ground zero, he paid 5 years for a branch when there was nothing here just to assist. Then later, to assist, he said “I will give you two branches, one on the left, one on the right” and he paid 5-5 years (10 years). Church Gist. Nobody would support a greenfield. If you have built and you have tenants, yes! You can go to the bank, they help you. But no! Not Herbert. He knew that one of his purposes was to assist us in putting this together.
When we needed to take finance from the bank, when the contractor left the site, he gave us the money. People of God…Herbert! He was supporting us. His wife also would support him. He will call his wife “bring 20 million, bring 10 million” and she too will support. He will call his friends. Church Gist. Our chairman knows what I am talking about and about 2 weeks ago or thereabout when we went to meet with him, we told him that project 2.4, we had paid over a billion in December. They told us to pay another one billion. We went back and forth, ‘back and forth.’ He now said ‘okay, gather people – those that can redeem immediately and those that can pledge and be sure to redeem in one year, that I will give one billion, interest free’ just to help us to pay the man.
People of God, I am sure that his works will speak for him on that day. It’s only good works my people. Putting God first. He’s not the only one that is blessed, some hoard. We beg, we shout and all that. No, not Herbert! He anticipates, he comes to my house, we pray. Church Gist. He comes to the office, we pray. That’s why it’s so difficult to understand the turn of events. But again, God is sovereign. We can’t question Him.
Well they say, once one passes, you join the clouds of witnesses. So we thank God for your life, Herbert and I am so happy that we told you all of these, we thanked you before you passed. Church Gist. It would have been sad if we didn’t appreciate him for all he did. God says “in all things give thanks.”
We give thanks to God for giving us Herbert and his wife and we pray that God will comfort the family, comfort Access Bank and comfort the Body of Christ.
So Herbert, I don’t know whether you can hear us. Church Gist. As we are thanking God, we are thanking you also and I pray that the choir will be able to put our thanksgiving into a song. Thank you for giving to the Lord.
And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Revelations 14:13
Credit: Church Gist