Leo Stan Ekeh: A disruptor turns 70

By Amechi Obiakpu

From Information Technology (IT) through business and philanthropy, the name Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman, Zinox Group, reverberates loudly. A Nigerian business man from Imo State- his sojourn in the Information technology space has been a blessing to the Nigerian state- thanks to his inseparable love for country and the IT sector which has made him an advocate for the survival of both among many other things.

This fact is never in doubt especially if you have had the opportunity of meeting and interacting with Ekeh more than once. First, he tells you of how he has been blessed by God to make money in millions of dollars from the IT space. Then he chips in how a huge part of the money were made from seizing the opportunities in the country, going ahead to tell you how despite the many challenges confronting Nigeria, opportunities abound- and the need for one to contribute his quota for her growth.

It is worthy to note that it is this ‘quota’ contribution that has fuelled his passion to ensure that the country’s economy grows. Leo Stan Ekeh, as he is fondly called, does not just talk the talk, he worked the talk.

My first close encounter with the tech icon, was in 2017 at the 5th anniversary celebration of News Express newspaper, one of the leading online news platform- I was a reporter working with the organisation at the time.

The event held at Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, had among several dignitaries Ekeh, who delivered a touching goodwill remark centred on supporting the needy. While he said many things, my attention was drawn to his many philanthropic gestures and free-will donations to the needy that ran into millions of naira. The donations spread across many communities, IDPs, institutions, schools and generally those in need. And he tells you the funds were not solicited for- but free-will donations.

I remembered joking then that if all the donations in millions of naira were unsolicited then what happened when one solicits?

Born exactly today, 70 years ago in Ubomiri Mbaitoli, Imo State- precisely on February 22, 1956, Ekeh had his secondary school education at Holy Ghost College, Owerri and proceeded to Punjab University, India where he bagged a Bachelor of Science degree in economics.

As reported across many media platforms, studying in India opened Ekeh’s entrepreneurial mindset to the possibility of how efforts can be channelled towards ‘fixing’ any economy.
He later studied at the Cork City University, Ireland, and thereafter transferred to Nottingham University, UK, earning a degree in risk management.

After his education, Ekeh delved into business. He was said to have envisioned to set up a transport company prior however, the love for IT was stronger. For over 20 years he went on to pioneer IT Solutions in West Africa through his many companies. He is credited to have delivered the largest IT Solutions ever, from an indigenous firm, ITEC Solutions, to the Nigerian Corporate Market.
Through Technology Distributions Ltd, Ekeh, also known as Africa’s tech innovator pioneered IT Distribution in West Africa.

In 2001 Ekeh set up Zinox Technologies Limited to manufacture Zinox Computers, Nigeria’s First Internationally Certified Branded Computers. The computer features include – the Naira sign, and a Power Supply designed to contain the erratic nature of electric power in Nigeria. At the launch, Zinox Computers already had the WHQL certification, the first in sub-Saharan Africa, it  consolidated 5 years later with the attainment of the NIS ISO 2000: 9001 QMS Certification. In October 2013, the company announced the production of its computer tablet line named Zipad.

In addition to Zinox, Ekeh would go ahead to involve with companies like Task Systems, Technology Distributions Limited, ICT Brokers, TD Plus, ICT Connect and Buyright AFRICA Dotcom.

He pioneered Desktop Publishing and Computer Graphics in Nigeria. He computerized 95% of the Print Media, Publishing Houses and Advertising Agencies in Nigeria.

For a man born to a middle-class family with three brothers and two sisters. Ekeh was comfortable by all standard after all studying abroad at the time he did showed that there was food on the table and a few extra for ‘other things’. But not Ekeh. He understands that true fulfilment can only be found by helping others. Aside the millions of employment his companies would later provide to put food on the tables of many Nigerian sons and daughters’ home, he also contributes to various course, positively. In addition, his contribution to the growth of the economy’s GDP is enormous.

In following the biblical injunction that, “all man should abide by his calling”, Ekeh has remained steadfast in the information technology space, without being swayed by the ‘glamour’ of all other professions. Even though his portfolio of investment is wide- all majorly centred around IT and IT related- he noted that not all profession are for him, politics especially.

“Me, politics? No. I would have been governor of my state long, long ago, but politics is not my calling. However, I support progressive, ideas-driven politicians across the country,” Eke said when asked why he did not consider going into politics.

“I returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom after quitting my post-graduate programme because I believed so much in this country and the opportunities it presents. Though the country has blessed and bruised me, my dream was unambiguous: to propagate what I called ‘digital democracy’ in a country that in those days was wholly analogue. Today, I will say to a large extent that Nigeria has helped me to actualize my dream, though there is still work to be done,” he affirmed. And true to it, that he has consistently done raising new generations of digitally savvy professionals to carry on the torch- with many of them excelling at their various endeavours.

Presently Leo Stan Ekeh sits at the top of Zinox Group, an umbrella group comprising;  Konga, Task System ltd, TD Africa, TD Mobile, Konga Radio and Zinox Technologies ltd, where he overseas the many industries in it’s group as the Chairman.

At 70, Leonard Stanley Ekeh has every course to give glory to God not only for a successful career journey but the good health he enjoys even as he still does many things some people his age find difficult to do.

To celebrate his Platinum Jubilee, the tech icon offered a N10b university scholarships to 1000 Nigerian indigent wiz-kids to study Computer Science in federal universities in Nigeria so that the country’s private and public sectors could have a new generation of tech wiz-kids to support the growth of the economy.

“We need quality and tech-savvy wiz-kids who can drive the future of government and e-governance and those who will become change-makers in the private sector”.

According to him, these Nigerian tech wiz-kids will be positioned to defend the massive development anticipated in the next 5 – 10 years in the oil and gas, banking, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, entertainment, etcetera, and public sectors.

What better way to guarantee the future if not by creating many ‘Leo Stan Ekehs’ that will disrupt the IT space and bring about further development in the country if not beyond.

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