Pascal Gabriel Dozie, a boardroom veteran and astute businessman, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 85. He would have been 86 today. He will be remembered for his immense contributions to the nation, his unwavering integrity, and his generosity of spirit.
Here are six things you didn’t know about the remarkable life he led:
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He was generous with his time and wisdom
Dozie was known for his accessibility and willingness to guide younger people.
“He made himself freely accessible to younger people & gave useful counsel unstintingly. I interacted with him on a number of occasions in the 1990s, and I never needed a prior introduction or reference to see him,” said Gbenro Adegbola. “He spoke in a gentle, deep voice filled with wisdom and candour.”
He shared a class with Mick Jagger
Dozie once shared a fascinating story about attending the London School of Economics (LSE) with Mick Jagger, the lead singer of The Rolling Stones.
“He once told an interesting anecdote of he & Mick Jagger, the lead singer of The Rolling Stones entering London School of Economics LSE the same year & in the same business class.He was struck by Mick’s long hair—so different from what he was used to. When Mick dropped out to pursue music full time, Dozie couldn’t believe someone would trade the promise of an education for a music career,” Adegbola recounted.
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He lived a life free of scandal
Dozie lived a life marked by decency, generosity, and integrity—without any whiff of controversy.
“A genuine icon who lived without scandal—a life of hard work, building, and contributing,” Adegbola concluded.
He was a model of discipline
One of his most admirable habits was his discipline and commitment to faith.
“Pascal Dozie changed my life by simply living his values,” said Osaretin Victor. “He attended 6 a.m. morning Mass at the Church of Assumption, Ikoyi, every weekday—fully dressed for work. I decided to emulate that discipline.”
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He championed loyalty over effectiveness
Dozie believed that loyalty was a more vital quality than effectiveness in both business and life.
“At his grandson Chidi’s christening, he asked: ‘Who is more important to hire when starting a business—the loyal person or the effective one?’ We all chose ‘effective.’ He smiled and told us: ‘Loyalty is more important than effectiveness.’ We learned that lesson the hard way,” Osaretine shared.
He was a role model in every sense
Whether as a mentor, leader, or friend,Dozie stood out. He was a man who didn’t just preach values—he lived them. Through his humility, generosity, and principled life, he inspired countless individuals across generations.
