The news
- Pascal Dozie, Founder of Diamond Bank and former Chairman of MTN Nigeria, has passed away at 85.
- Dozie played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s banking and telecommunications sectors.
- His legacy continues through his sons, who have founded fintech startups Carbon and Sparkle.
Pascal Gabriel Dozie, a pivotal figure in Nigeria’s financial sector, has passed away at the age of 85.
Born on April 9, 1939, in Egbu, Owerri, Imo State, Dozie’s visionary leadership laid the foundation for significant advancements in Nigeria’s economic landscape.
In 1990, Dozie founded Diamond Bank to address the banking needs of traders in the South-East of Nigeria. Starting with a modest share capital of ₦10 million and 21 shareholders, the bank rapidly grew under his stewardship.
Dozie served as CEO until 2006, when he passed the baton to his son, Uzoma Dozie. Diamond Bank became renowned for its innovative approaches to banking before merging with Access Bank in 2019.
Beyond banking, Dozie was the pioneer chairman of MTN Nigeria, guiding the company through its formative years following the liberalisation of the telecom sector in the early 2000s. Under his leadership, MTN expanded rapidly, becoming the country’s largest mobile network and symbolising Nigeria’s digital transformation.
Dozie’s commitment to excellence and service earned him national recognition, including the prestigious Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) award.
His entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to nation-building have evidently influenced his family. Three of his sons have ventured into the fintech space, continuing his legacy of innovation in Nigeria’s financial sector.
Uzoma Dozie, after serving as the Group Managing Director and CEO of Diamond Bank, founded Sparkle in 2019. Sparkle is a mobile-first platform focused on Nigeria’s retail sector, offering a suite of financial and lifestyle services designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Under Uzoma’s leadership, Sparkle has attracted significant attention, securing more than $3.1 million in funding.
Chijioke and Ngozi Dozie co-founded Carbon, a leading African digital bank. Initially established as a lending company, Carbon has evolved to offer a range of financial services, including payments, investments, and personal finance management tools.
