Pascal Gabriel Dozie, a towering figure in Nigeria’s banking and telecommunications industries, has died at the age of 85. The founder of the now-defunct Diamond Bank Plc and the pioneer chairman of MTN Nigeria passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, April 8, 2025, just one day before his 86th birthday. According to sources close to the family, Dozie succumbed to an age-related illness after a brief battle.
Born on April 9, 1939, in Egbu, Owerri, Imo State, Dozie rose from humble beginnings to become one of Nigeria’s most influential entrepreneurs. Educated at the London School of Economics, where he earned a degree in Economics, and later at City University in London, where he obtained a Master’s in Administrative Science, Dozie brought his global expertise back to Nigeria. In 1990, he established Diamond Bank, a financial institution that revolutionized customer-focused banking before its merger with Access Bank in 2019. His visionary leadership also shaped Nigeria’s telecom landscape as the first chairman of MTN Nigeria, steering its early growth into a dominant industry player.
Dozie’s contributions earned him widespread admiration and the national honor of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON). He is survived by his wife, Chinyere, and their five children. His family, represented by his son Uzoma Dozie, expressed gratitude for his impactful life, stating, “He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and a man of unwavering faith. His legacy will endure.”
Pascal Dozie’s death marks the end of an era, leaving behind a profound legacy of innovation and service to Nigeria’s economic development.
