Nigeria has lost one of its foremost architects of modern enterprise and economic transformation. Pascal Gabriel Dozie, trailblazing banker, telecom pioneer, and mentor to a generation of business leaders, has died.
He passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, just a day before his 86th birthday.
A titan of industry with an unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s development, Dozie’s life was a testament to how individual vision can redefine a nation’s economic destiny.
From founding Diamond Bank in 1990—a financial institution that became a benchmark for innovation and customer-centric banking in Nigeria—to leading the telecom revolution as the pioneer chairman of MTN Nigeria, his fingerprints are etched across key sectors of the economy.
Born on April 9, 1939, in Egbu, Owerri, Imo State, Dozie’s intellectual journey took him from local classrooms at Our Lady’s School, Emekuku, to global academic excellence at the London School of Economics, where he studied economics and earned a master’s degree in administrative science. This academic foundation empowered him to dream big for Nigeria.
Under his leadership, Diamond Bank grew into one of Nigeria’s most trusted financial institutions, before its eventual merger with Access Bank. In a seamless transition of leadership that reflected his belief in legacy and continuity, he handed the baton to his son, Uzoma Dozie.
Equally groundbreaking was his role in the telecommunications sector. As MTN Nigeria’s first chairman, he helped lay the groundwork for a digital transformation that connected millions and opened up new frontiers for economic participation and social inclusion.
A man of quiet strength, unwavering ethics, and profound vision, Pascal Dozie was honored with the national title of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) for his exceptional service.
He is survived by his wife, Chinyere, and their children, who carry forward the values and legacy of a man who not only built businesses but helped build a nation.
