Pascal Gabriel Dozie, the founder of the now-defunct Diamond Bank Plc and former chairman of MTN Nigeria, has passed away at the age of 85.
The respected business magnate died in the early hours of Tuesday, April 8, 2025, according to a statement released by his family. His son, Uzoma Dozie, who issued the statement on behalf of the family, described the elder Dozie as a devoted family man and a person of deep Catholic faith.
“With deep sorrow, but with gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing of our beloved father, Pascal Gabriel Dozie,” Uzoma stated.
“He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and a man of unwavering Catholic faith. His life was marked by service to God, his family, and his country,” the statement added.
Dozie is survived by his wife, Chinyere, his children, grandchildren, and numerous associates in the corporate world and beyond who were touched by his leadership and legacy.
Dozie was a towering figure in Nigeria’s banking and telecommunications sectors. He established Diamond Bank in 1990, growing it into one of the country’s most respected financial institutions before it merged with Access Bank in 2019. He also served as the chairman of MTN Nigeria, playing a pivotal role in the expansion of mobile communications across the country.
President Bola Tinubu, among other national leaders, has extended condolences to the family, describing Dozie as a “business icon whose impact on Nigeria’s private sector cannot be overstated.”
Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in the coming days.
