Celebrating Leo Stan Ekeh, African ICT Icon @60

Several people have contributed greatly to the development of Information and Communications Technology in Africa.One of such men is Leo Stan Ekeh,the Chairman of Zinox Technologies Group.Today we join many to celebrate the achievements of Leo Stan Ekeh, an African ICT Icon on his 60^th birthday. Interestingly not many people know about him.

Leonard Nnamdi Stanley Ekeh was born to the family of Late Chief and Mrs. Ebenezer Ekeh of Ubomiri, Mbaitoli LGA, in Imo State, Nigeria on the 22^nd February, 1956.He obtained a B.Sc. Economics (Hons) Punjab University, PGD Risk Management from Nottingham City University, London. Terminated his Post graduate degree in Computer Science at Cork City University, Ireland in 1984 after spending three months based on agreement between his parents and the University as they did not see a future in IT in Africa since Mr. Leo Stan insisted on returning home after graduation. Abandoned his Masters’ Degree in Business Law after 8 months at what is known today as London Metropolitan University to use his school fees to launch his first Company Task Systems Ltd. with which he caused digital revolution in Nigeria by pioneering Desktop Publishing and Computer Graphics in West Africa. This is the platform he used in computerizing over 95% of Media/ Multimedia houses and book publishing houses in Nigeria.

Leo Stan has been very successful in business and also in marriage. Married to Mrs. Chioma Ekeh,who is a brilliant and consummate business leader and the CEO of Technology Distributions Ltd – the largest ICT Distribution Company in Sub-Saharan Africa.Also Leo Stan’s son Prince Nnamdi Ekeh – A 23 year-old Digital Entrepreneur is the Founder of Yudala, the trend-setting and first true composite e-commerce Company in Africa.

Some of Leo Stan Ekeh’s Achievements include:

• Pioneered Desktop Publishing and Computer Graphics in Nigeria in 1987 with his first Company – Task Systems Ltd

• Pioneered the deployment of digital dispensing pumps in Nigeria in partnership with Elf Petroleum and Schlumberger, France through his company Stanoil. This was after he was cheated by a petrol station attendant in Ikeja with the analogue pumps

• Launched the first ICT support Company in Nigeria – ITEC Solutions Ltd

• Launched the First ICT Distribution Company in West Africa – Technology Distributions Ltd –Nigeria, Liberia and Ghana etc.

• Launched the first local and internationally certified Computer brand in Sub-Saharan Africa – Zinox Technologies Group – Manufacturers of Zinox brand of Computers and mobile devices etc.

• Caused the biometric digital revolution in Nigeria with INEC voter’s registration in 2006 when foreign contractors could not deliver after months of promises. Again supervised the largest single ICT digital rollout in Africa with INEC in 2010 through his company Zinox Technologies that won the over N27b contract.

• Through his company Zinox Technologies – deployed the largest single e-Library and Wireless cloud rollout in Africa.

Mr. Ekeh has also earned over 85 Awards amongst which are:

• Icon of Hope Award by President Olusegun Obasanjo on the 1^st of October 2002 for his exemplary Digital vision and as a Model for modern Nigeria.

• OFR – Order of the Federal Republic for his incisive digital Entrepreneurship

• Pioneer ICT Personality of the year by Nigeria Computer Society – the Umbrella body of all Computer Associations in Nigeria

• Fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society

• Distinguished Fellow of the Nigeria Law School

• Over 6 Doctor of Science Degrees (Honoris causa) from FUTO, UNIJOS, FUAM, IMSU etc.

• Microsoft Inc. Global Adviser.

It is worthy to note that Mr. Ekeh has been in the fore front of Digital emancipation of Africans. He encouraged Apple Computers, Hewlett Packard, Compaq, Microsoft, Lenovo etc. to come into Nigeria to establish offices. He also served the Federal government in several strategic Presidential Committees including the most strategic seven man Committee under President Obasanjo administration – “The Nigeria Thinkers”.

Going by his several investments in ICT, he is surely on his way to building one of the largest ICT conglomerates in Africa.

We wish him a Happy 60^th Birthday!