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Uzoma Dozie shares why he exited Diamond Bank to build Sparkle, a tech-first platform reshaping Nigeria’s banking future.

Uzoma Dozie, Nigerian banker and tech entrepreneur, has spoken in detail about one of the most significant decisions of his career selling Diamond Bank and launching Sparkle.

Speaking on The Coffee Table, Dozie reflected on legacy, innovation, and the future of banking in Nigeria.

Diamond Bank was founded by his father, Pascal G. Dozie, and grew into one of Nigeria’s most recognised financial institutions. But according to Uzoma Dozie, the decision to exit was not emotional it was strategic.

Dozie explained that traditional banking systems rely heavily on people and physical processes, which limits scale and efficiency. For him, the future of finance lies in technology-led platforms that can operate seamlessly, round the clock.

He said selling Diamond Bank created the opportunity to build a new kind of financial institution from the ground up one designed for modern users, not constrained by legacy systems.

Sparkle, Dozie noted, was created to go beyond basic banking functions like transfers and lending. The platform integrates services such as payroll management, invoicing, and tax support into a single digital ecosystem.

The goal, he said, is to democratise access to essential business tools, especially for individuals and small businesses that are often underserved by conventional banks.

Unlike many fintech companies focused on short-term transactions, Dozie stressed that Sparkle is designed as infrastructure. 

The platform prioritises processes over manual intervention and leverages technology including artificial intelligence to help users make smarter financial decisions.

According to him, this approach allows Sparkle to respond faster to customer needs while avoiding the inefficiencies that come with older banking models.

Dozie described Sparkle as both a continuation and an evolution of his family’s legacy. While Diamond Bank represented excellence in traditional banking, Sparkle represents the next chapter one built for a digital economy.

He concluded that Sparkle was designed to operate 24/7, scale without friction, and place intelligent financial tools directly in the hands of users.

Listeners can catch the full conversation on The Coffee Table, where Dozie discusses the Diamond Bank legacy, the Sparkle journey, and what lies ahead for banking in Nigeria.