Pascal Gabriel Dozie, the founder of the defunct Diamond Bank Plc and one of Nigeria’s most respected figures in banking and finance, has died at the age of 85.
According to Business Day, Dozie passed away in the early hours of Tuesday, April 8, 2025—just a day before his 86th birthday—after a battle with an age-related illness.
Dozie was best known for establishing Diamond Bank in 1990, a bank that would go on to redefine customer service and innovation in Nigeria’s banking sector. Under his leadership, Diamond Bank gained a reputation for excellence, technological advancement, and accessibility—especially at a time when the Nigerian banking system was largely viewed as rigid and exclusive.
Over the years, Diamond Bank grew from a small commercial bank into a household name in the country’s financial sector, playing a key role in making banking services more inclusive. The bank was widely recognized for its adoption of digital banking tools and customer-first approach.
In 2019, Diamond Bank officially merged with Access Bank, marking one of the largest banking consolidations in Nigerian history. The merger brought an end to the Diamond Bank name but extended its legacy through one of the largest retail banks in Africa. Dozie had already stepped down as chairman by that time, having passed on leadership to his son, Uzoma Dozie, who served as the bank’s last Chief Executive Officer.
Beyond his banking career, Pascal Dozie made remarkable contributions to Nigeria’s economic development. He served as chairman of MTN Nigeria and played a significant role in the early growth of telecommunications in the country. He was also a founding partner of the African Capital Alliance, a private equity firm instrumental in funding large-scale businesses across West Africa.
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Dozie earned degrees in economics from the London School of Economics and the City University in London. Over the decades, he became not just a businessman but a thought leader, mentor, and advocate for entrepreneurship and private sector development in Nigeria.
He is survived by his wife, Chinyere Dozie, and five children. His passing marks the end of an era in Nigerian business and banking history.
Further details about his funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in the coming days.
