Reviews
Leaders of the private and the public sector praise the memoir, urging others to read it.
How to make a dream come true, to make the difference and to let the impossible become possible. Aig and Herbert are the inspiring role models for the next generation leaders in Nigeria and Africa. Aig’s story is a unique guide for the young and the old to develop themselves into leaders with an entrepreneurial spirit, required in both the private and the public sectors. They will contribute to the growth and progress for all in Nigeria and Africa. You are never alone, only together, as a team, you can make change stick and sustainable from within. “Mutual Trust” and “Mutual Respect” are the value drivers for an “All-inclusive Leadership” for Nigeria and Africa. This book is an absolute must read for today’s leaders and all aspiring leaders of tomorrow!
Thank you for sending me a copy of your book, Leaving the Tarmac. I can now confirm that I have read every page of the 17 chapters, and understand better what took place shortly before, and during your tenure as CEO of Access Bank. You must also allow me to commend this endeavour of yours, very uncommon in this clime. I believe that it is important to document experiences for succeeding generations. In this regard, you have blazed yet another trail. Congratulations.
When Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede called to request that I should review his book Leaving the Tarmac: Buying a Bank in Africa, I had no choice but to accept. The first reason is that besides Aig’s NYSC at Continental Merchant Bank, which I considered a “warm-up”’, his real starting point on the tarmac was when he joined Prime Merchant Bank. I also started my banking career at the now-defunct Prime, under the tutelage of one of the banking “masters”, the late Tayo Aderinokun.
The essence of a well-written non-fiction book is felt through its underlying message, lessons offered and ability of the author to open up himself to scrutiny; and so is this book written by Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede who decided to write and conclude the book in 2015; two years after leaving Access Bank Plc.
I have had the pleasure of reading Aigboje’s book on the history and motivation for the acquisition of Access Bank in 2002 by Herbert Wigwe and himself. Perhaps Aigboje could think of no better person to do the review as I had a ringside seat during the events that led to the acquisition of the bank, first as an adviser to Aigboje and Herbert through our law firm of Aluko & Oyebode (after Bankole Aluko passed away in February 2002). Subsequently, I served on the Bank’s board from 2002 – 2005 as a Director and 2005 – 2015 as the Chairman of the Board.
The story of Access Bank is one Nigeria has been waiting to hear for a long time. A chronicle of courage, inspiration, success and audacity, it is one of the most fascinating success stories of our time which chronicles how Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and his partner, Herbert Wigwe bought a crisis-ridden and dying bank, and turned it into one of the nation’s strongest and biggest. I am glad that the account is given by the lead character in the epic event. It is an insider’s reminiscences, written in elevated language and replete with important details. Aig-Imoukhuede’s soon-to-be-published new book gives detailed narration and recollections of how the two friends launched a hostile takeover of the bank in 2002 and executed the most aggressive growth strategy in the industry which catapulted the collapsing institution from the bottom to the top. Titled Leaving the Tarmac: Buying a Bank in Africa - a title adapted from his childhood experience in Kaduna - the 208-page volume is beautifully written in an elegant business prose, but bereft of the arcane phraseology of finance people. Sequentially, Aig presents the exciting and sad episodes of his 13-year tenure as the CEO of the bank, starting with how the dream to buy a bank came about and ending with the epochal acquisition of Intercontinental Bank in 2011.
This book is riveting. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede’s book, Leaving The Tarmac: Buying a Bank in Africa is about ambition. But it is one that is dogged and calculated. There is no randomness about it, as it is laced with audacity, supported by clarity of goal and vision; a purposeful, meaningful desire to succeed.