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Updated: Meet The Dozie Brothers Who ‘Left’ Diamond Bank to Start Different Banks

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Uzoma Dozie is the most popular of his siblings, but the others in his family have also shown a desire for banking

Like Uzoma, Chijioke and Ngozi are running their banking industry projects operating in the fintech ecosystem

Uzoma went on to launch a digital Microfinance Bank named Sparkle after he left Diamond Bank as its chief executive

They grew up in an environment where banking was all they knew. From seeing their father, Pascal Dozie, pilot the affairs of one of the most visible banks in Nigeria, Uzoma, Chijioke and Ngozi Dozie, the sons of the erstwhile Diamond Bank and MTN Nigeria chairman, now run separate shows in the banking industry.

Pascal Dozie founded Diamond Bank in 1990 to provide financial services to underserved communities and support small and medium-sized enterprises in Nigeria, particularly in the southeast.

Under his visionary leadership, Diamond Bank grew from a modest operation into one of Nigeria’s most respected financial institutions.

As the bank’s CEO until 2006 and later as Chairman, Dozie emphasised innovation, professionalism, and customer service.

His leadership helped Diamond Bank expand both locally and internationally.

In 2019, the bank merged with Access Bank, marking the end of an era but cementing Dozie’s legacy as a pioneer in Nigeria’s modern banking landscape.

Tongues wagged when Access Bank, under the leadership of Uzoma Dozie, took over Diamond Bank, making many believe the Dozies must have sold common patrimony to a stronger competitor.

It is not clear where Chijioke and Ngozi were at the time the landmark decision to hand over their father’s sweat, as many would call it, was made.

However, it was clear that Chijioke and Ngozi were invested in banking, like Uzoma, who was taunted for selling their father’s inheritance.

Maybe they were led by the desire to cut their teeth in Nigeria’s highly competitive banking industry.

The question of whether selling Diamond Bank to Access Bank was the best idea is no longer essential. What’s important is that the three siblings are still very much invested in banking, each making giant strides in their personal space.

Carbon Finance, founded by Chijioke Dozie, is in its 12th year with a promise to transform the banking industry.

Digital banks want to make banking more accessible and flexible for customers.

According to the Guardian, Carbon Finance was initially set up as a lending company with over a million users across Nigeria and operates in two African countries.

It began operations in 2012 as One Credit, a consumer lender. In 2016, the firm became a digital lender through its app, Paylater.

Chijioke Dozie, the co-founder and CEO of Carbon Finance, said the company seeks to focus on its customers’ needs and adapt to market demands.

Ngozi Dozie, also a co-founder, said that the company’s newly launched product gives its customers the flexibility to shop when they want at zero per cent interest rates. In 2019, the bank processed over $240 million in payments.

Uzoma Dozie – Sparkle MFB
Uzoma Dozie has remained in banking after exiting Diamond Bank as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer. Diamond Bank was sold or merged with Access Bank, depending on which side of the divide you belong to.

Uzoma founded Sparkle Microfinance Bank, operating as a fintech company. In October 2021, his latest invention raised $3.1 million to expand operations.

Uzoma told TechCrunch that they do not see their customers from accounts, payments, deposits or credit angles but from how they can help them do what they want to do at any time.

He said the bank wanted to provide Nigerians with financial, lifestyle and business support services.

The bank launched Sparkle Business in April last year to acquire several underserved users from small and medium businesses.

 

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Black Market Naira To Dollar Exchange Rate Today 12th January 2026

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What is the Dollar to Naira Exchange rate at the black market, also known as the parallel market (Aboki fx)?

You can swap your dollar for Naira at these rates.

How much is a dollar to naira today in the black market?

The exchange rate for a dollar to naira at Lagos Parallel Market (Black Market) players buy a dollar for N1490 and sell at N1505 on Sunday, 11th January 2026 according to sources at Bureau De Change (BDC).

Black Market Exchange Rate Today 12th January, 2026
Buying Rate N1485
Selling Rate N1500

The exchange rate between the US dollar (USD) and the Nigerian naira (NGN) which rate we have given above; is a topic of high constant interest for people who are Nigerian and businesses and policymakers in Nigeria.

This rate of dollars to naira exchange rate influences not only the cost of imported goods but also the cost of travel, international education, and even local prices of certain commodities.

Please note that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) does not recognize the parallel market (black market), as it has directed individuals who want to engage in Forex to approach their respective banks.

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BREAKING: Petrol Depot Owners Crash Prices To Cheapest; Details Emerge

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Petrol prices at Nigerian depots have dropped to their lowest levels in months as intense competition grips the downstream market, following the apparent collapse of the fuel supply agreement between the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and independent marketers.

Fresh findings show that depot owners have slashed ex-depot prices to as low as N710 per litre, a sharp reversal from the steep hikes recorded just weeks earlier.,

In the first week of January 2026, depot owners sharply increased gantry prices after reports emerged that the Dangote Refinery had shut down its petrol production unit for maintenance.

Although the refinery denied the reports, the speculation was enough to jolt the market.

Depot prices surged, and the increases quickly filtered through to filling stations nationwide.

Independent marketers raised gantry prices from around N720 per litre to over N800 per litre, with analysts noting that depot operators were exploiting uncertainty surrounding Africa’s largest refinery.

Depot owners reverse course as competition intensifies
The price spike, however, has proven short-lived.

Checks reveal that depot owners have now reversed course, cutting prices aggressively to stay competitive with Dangote Refinery’s pricing structure, especially as fresh fuel imports enter the Nigerian market.

Data from PetroleumPriceNG shows that several major depots reduced prices significantly in recent days.

As of Sunday, January 11, 2026, ShellPlux sold petrol at N710 per litre, MAO at N715, while A.Y.M.

Falling crude oil prices add more pressure
Energy experts say global oil market dynamics are also contributing to the decline in local petrol prices.

“Crude oil is currently trading between $50 and $60 per barrel in the international market,” energy policy analyst Adeola Yusuf told Legit.ng.

According to him, ongoing geopolitical tensions involving Venezuela and Iran have pushed crude prices lower, with direct implications for refined fuel costs.

“Crude oil is often used as a political tool and is highly sensitive to geopolitical developments. When prices drop, refined product prices usually follow, especially in domestic markets,” Yusuf explained.

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Good News: Cooking Gas Prices Drop As LPG Supply Improves Across Nigeria

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Prices of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), commonly known as cooking gas, are crashing in several parts of the country as retailers report improved supplies.

According to a market survey by PUNCH, retailers and consumers confirmed that prices have dropped and the product has become more available across the country.

This development follows months of scarcity, which led to a nationwide hike in prices. The scarcity peaked in September 2025.

Consumers in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and other states confirmed that they purchased cooking gas within the N1,050 to N1,400 range. Some major marketers were also reported to be selling directly to consumers at around N900 per kilogramme.

For many households, the current prices represent a significant improvement from the sharp increases recorded last year, when LPG prices surged after a dispute involving the Dangote refinery and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) led to the shutdown of some gas facilities.

Despite the improvement, several consumers said they were hopeful that prices would fall below N1,000 per kilogramme in the new year, arguing that lower costs are critical to promoting clean cooking and reducing reliance on firewood and kerosene.

Speaking on the situation, the National Chairman of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Retailers branch of the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Ayobami Olarinoye, said the LPG market had become relatively stable, with increased supply reaching Lagos.

According to Olarinoye, some off-takers are now receiving gas in Apapa, Lagos, helping to ease availability challenges experienced in previous months.

He explained that retail prices at street-level outlets currently range between N1,300 and N1,400 per kilogramme, noting that costs vary based on neighbourhoods, transportation and logistics.

Olarinoye added that prices could be lower at filling stations and gas plants, where operational and distribution costs are reduced.

He further disclosed that retailers currently purchase LPG from major marketers at prices between N960 and N1,050 per kilogram, depending on the supplier. According to the NUPENG official, sellers offering LPG below N1,000 per kilogramme are typically major dealers who own their own plants and sell directly to end users and do not distribute to retailers.

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