Respected Nigerian banker and businessman Pascal Gabriel Dozie has passed away at the age of 85.
The renowned founder of Diamond Bank Plc and former chairman of MTN Nigeria reportedly died in the early hours of Tuesday, April 8, 2025, following complications related to aging. His death came just one day before what would have been his 86th birthday.
Dozie was widely known in Nigeria’s financial sector as a visionary entrepreneur who played a key role in the modernization of banking in the country.
In the late 1980s, he founded Diamond Bank, which later became one of the most innovative and customer-friendly financial institutions in Nigeria.
He served as the bank’s chairman for several years before stepping down and passing the reins to his son, Uzoma Dozie. Uzoma continued in his father’s footsteps and eventually led the bank through a major merger with Access Bank, creating one of the largest banking entities in West Africa.
Aside from his banking achievements, Pascal Dozie also played a significant role in Nigeria’s telecommunications sector. He was one of the early investors and served as chairman of MTN Nigeria, the country’s largest mobile network provider.
