BY:
UGO AMADI
.“People often become
what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something, it
makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the
ability to do it even if I didn’t have it in the beginning.” – Mahatma Gandhi
This
was the propelling statement that inspired Leo Stan Ekeh, our legend of ICT industry
in Nigeria, when he abandoned his Masters’ Degree in BUSINESS LAW after
8months at what is known today as London Metropolitan University. He used 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.
As
Leo Stan clocks 60 years, he brims with fulfillment of purpose even though his parents did not see a future in IT in
Africa .
Today, Leo Stan Ekeh is
a trailblazer, beacon of optimism, Legend of “megabyte’, astute businessman and
great Icon who will forever be remembered by his family, friends, associates
and great digital world. As a matter of fact, words cannot convey their love,
respect and admiration for this finest Nigeria’s classic businessman.
He is a motivating
aphorism example, as well as an aide memoire to all that direction is not the function
of sight but a combination of sight, insight and hindsight. Thus, individuals can
awaken the giants within them in order to accomplish life’s purpose.
Leo Stan was young but
optimistic. He had a vision, he understood what needed to be done – he had the
skills, work ethics and dedication to conquer the world of ICT. He can be
described as a man of diligence who optimizes
the “I can do spirit”. This has enabled him stimulate and surmount all the
industries he bestrides.
Born from a good background on February 22, 1956,
in Ubomiri, Mbaitoli LGA, Imo State to Late Chief and Mrs. Ebenezer Ekeh, with
three brothers and two sisters.
Fortified with foremost
education from some of the world’s leading institutions, Leo Stan was ready to
conquer his world. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from
Punjab University, India . Ekeh believes that studying in India was a great
turning point in his life because he found the economy of India a realistic
economy.
After his university education in India, Ekeh
opted to study at the Cork City University, Ireland, and later transferred to
Nottingham University, UK, earning a degree in risk management.
Through his first
company, Task Systems Limited, he was one of the few who pioneered Desktop
Publishing and Computer Graphics in Nigeria. He computerized 95 percent of the
Print Media, Publishing Houses and Advertising Agencies in Nigeria. Task
Systems Limited has consistently won outstanding industry Awards as Best
Partner Award for Compaq, HP, Microsoft, American Power Solution, APC etc. for over
20 years.
Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh pioneered IT Solutions in
West Africa through his company ITEC Solutions Limited through which he has
delivered the largest IT Solutions ever, from an indigenous firm to the
Nigerian Corporate Market.
As a man with a golden
touch, Leo Stan also pioneered IT Distribution in West Africa through
Technology Distributions Limited, TD, which has emerged the Number 1 ICT
distribution company in West Africa. TD has consistently won for ten years the
highest industry Awards and recognitions for market penetration, revenue, and
preferred partner status to become the most decorated ICT Distributor in West
Africa.
Furthermore, Leo Stan
Ekeh scored another first in 2001 when he set up Zinox Technologies Limited to
manufacture Zinox Computers, Nigeria’s First Internationally Certified Branded
Computers. Leo Stan’s Zinox Computer has some innovative features, which
include - the Naira sign, and a Power Supply designed to contain the erratic
nature of electric power in Nigeria. It was the first ever internationally
certified branded computer OEM in West Africa.
He ensured that at launch Zinox Computers
already had the WHQL certification, the first in sub-Saharan Africa; 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.
Leo Stan Ekeh has a
record of incisive entrepreneurship and his vision to computerize Nigeria has
rewritten the history of Information Technology in the Third World. Mr. Ekeh
who believes that no one is destined to be poor in this knowledge century has
been the main driver of digital knowledge democracy in Africa.
As Chairman of the
Zinox Group, one of his legacies is to alter positively the destiny of many
poor Nigerians through his knowledge democracy platforms. The most integrated
Information Technology Group in the whole of Africa, the Zinox Group has shown
multiple competencies in manufacturing, solutions delivery and logistics.
The Group salvaged the
2006 Voters’ registration exercise by delivering 12,000 systems to INEC in 3
weeks. Again in 2011, under his leadership, the Group has been responsible for
the technology backbone for the 2011 voters’ registration through the supply of
80,000 DDC Machines in 35 days; an awesome accomplishment for an indigenous
firm in Nigeria or anywhere in the world.
Another disruptive move
was to offer solutions to the oil and gas sector of the economy. It was at this
point that Steve Job enhanced the Graphics Interface of Apple with User Interface
which limited it initially from being used in the corporate sector as an
alternative to IBM, which gave Leo Stan the impetus to expand into the rare corporate
sector.
As a matter of fact nothing
makes a legend more memorable than the right combination of a distinguished
talent bringing the performance and purpose to life. Leo Stan Ekeh has earned
over 85 Awards amongst which are - Icon of Hope Award by President Olusegun
Obasanjo on the 1st of October 2002 for his exemplary Digital vision and as a
Model for modern Nigeria.
He was given the award
of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) for his insightful digital private
enterprise; and pioneer ICT Personality of the year by the Nigeria Computer
Society – the Umbrella body of all Computer Associations in Nigeria.
A Fellow of the Nigeria
Law School, Fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society, the legend has over six
Doctor of Science Degrees (Honoris causa) from FUTO, UNIJOS, FUAM, IMSU etc.
One of the most
respected, assiduous, brilliant and most hunted after persona in both
international and local ICT events, the Legend Leo Stan Ekeh is Microsoft Inc.
Global Adviser and mentor to many upcoming small businesses in Nigeria.
Not resting on his
achievements, Leo Stan has an aspiration to erect the biggest and largest ICT corporation in sub Saharan Africa and
Africa as a whole thus with his Group investment in Xputer, a 21st century
Software company.
Expediently, his chain
of ICT groups has undoubtedly taking a premiere position in ICT industry with
Task Systems Ltd dealing in ICT Distribution (Technology Distributions),
Digital Hardware manufacturing and Hybrid ICT solutions, Retail (Yudala by
relationship), Enterprise Digital Internet Hub (Zinox Telecoms Ltd, Nigeria and
Ashour Corporation, Dubai) .
Furthermore, Passionate
about taking young people out of the street, Leo Stan Ekeh has strategically
though YUDALA “YUBOSE” the latest and fast growing online and offline retail
shop created a platform that will create over 200 young millionaires in the
next few years.
According to him, ‘the
next mega wealth of Nigeria’s future is online not in oil and gas thus, Nigerians
and the government should key into it”. Interestingly, he has been in the fore
front of Digital emancipation of Africans. He encouraged Apple Computers,
Hewlett Packard, Compaq, Microsoft, Lenovo etc. come into Nigeria to establish
offices.
Also within Zinox,
there are digital Internet hub called Zinox Telecom which is streaming online
content using the group’s robust broadband infrastructure to about 226 tertiary
schools and over 1,000 secondary institutions and other strategic corporate
organisations in the country.
He has served the Federal Government in
several strategic Presidential Committees including the most strategic seven-man
Committee under President Obasanjo administration – “The Nigeria Thinkers”.
This was the strategy and tact committee headed by the President that
visualized the Nigerian global road map and possible dominance in select
sectors in Africa and the world.
As our Legend - Leo
Stan celebrates his birthday, we trust God Almighty to continuously grant him
good health, wisdom and many more years so that humanity will continue to draw
from his wealth of knowledge, candor, diligent, and incomparable leadership.
Personally speaking,
Leo Stan has inspired and influenced my work ethics and dedication. He will
always remain a true champion and a legend of the “Megabytes” in ICT industry.
A true inspiration for
many to follow, a devout Christian and family man; Leo Stan is married to
Chioma and they have five wonderful children.
He is also a
philanthropist of repute who gives out nearly half of his earnings yearly for
the betterment of mankind and in line with his covenant with his God. Indeed
LEO STAN EKEH is our Legend.
