THE LEGEND OF THE “MEGABYTES”- LEO STAN EKEH @ 60

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.