Pascal Gabriel Dozie, founder of the defunct Diamond Bank Plc and former chairman of MTN Nigeria, has died at the age of 85.

He died in the early hours of Tuesday, April 8, 2025, just a day before his 86th birthday.

According to a family statement issued by his son, Uzoma Dozie, who described him as a “devoted husband, father, grandfather, and a man of unwavering Catholic faith.”

“With deep sorrow, but with gratitude to God for a life well spent, we announce the passing of our beloved father,” the son said.

“His life was marked by service—to God, his family, and his country.”

Mr Dozie was best known as the founder of Diamond Bank, which he established in 1990 and led until his retirement. The bank grew to become one of Nigeria’s most innovative financial institutions before it merged with Access Bank in 2019.

He later handed over leadership of the bank to his son, Uzoma, who served as CEO until the merger.

Beyond banking, the late Mr Dozie was instrumental in the evolution of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry.

He served as the pioneer chairman of MTN Nigeria, helping guide the telecoms giant through its early days following the liberalisation of the sector in the early 2000s.

Under his stewardship, MTN expanded rapidly, becoming the country’s largest mobile network and a symbol of Nigeria’s digital transformation.