President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of renowned entrepreneur and elder statesman, Chief (Dr.) Pascal Gabriel Dozie, who died at the age of 85.

In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described the late business mogul as a “rare breed business leader” whose trailblazing efforts significantly shaped Nigeria’s economic landscape.

Chief Dozie was the founder of Diamond Bank and the pioneer Chairman of MTN Nigeria, two institutions that have played transformative roles in the banking and telecommunications sectors. Beyond his work in the private sector, he also served as a director at the Central Bank of Nigeria, President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, and Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group.

The President praised Chief Dozie’s commitment to national development, describing him as a visionary who believed deeply in Nigeria’s potential. “His wisdom, humility, and pioneering efforts laid a foundation upon which many continue to build,” Tinubu noted.

He extended heartfelt condolences to the Dozie family, the business community, and the entire nation, urging the Nigerian private sector to honour Chief Dozie’s legacy by embracing the values of integrity, innovation, and nation-building that he embodied.

President Tinubu prayed for the peaceful repose of Chief Dozie’s soul and comfort for his wife, children, and extended family.