Leo Stan Ekeh: Life lessons from Africa’s great entrepreneur, digital icon and humanist

*Chief (Dr.) Leo Stan Ekeh, OFR, a foremost Nigerian businessman, serial entrepreneur, tech visionary, Founder and Chairman of Zinox Group, who clocks 70 February 22, 2026, continues to remain a global citizen, cerebral personality, digital icon, philanthropist, and unassuming blessing to humanity till this day

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

It is a universal statement of fact that human greatness lies not in wealth, power, or status, but in character, goodness, and the capacity to lift others up.

This unique attribute of homo sapiens is usually, defined by service, resilience in adversity, and the quiet, daily actions that make a difference in the lives of others.

Chief (Dr.) Leo Stan Ekeh (LSE), OFR, widely known by his numerous friends and admirers simply as “Leo Stan”, is a septuagenarian, who exemplifies the fundamental themes of greatness in regard to his rare strength of character, modesty, inherent cum latent potential for greatness, and resilience to endure criticisms and overcome challenges.

Over the past 40 years, Dr. Ekeh has remained a foremost Nigerian businessman, serial digital entrepreneur, tech visionary, Founder and Chairman of Zinox Group of Companies with the headquarters in Lagos.

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Ekeh, indisputably a gentleman of many parts with multiple honorary Doctorate Degrees in his kitty, has just recorded three scores and ten on the planet earth.

He has been a global citizen, cerebral personality, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) expert, philanthropist of lasting impact, and unassuming blessing to humanity in several respects.

Though armed with an entrepreneurial mind-set and dream from childhood to own the biggest transport company, he later pivoted to technology business, an ever evolving landscape, in which has continued to make indelible marks in the sands of time.

Born February 22, 1956, then young Ekeh, a native of Ubomiri, Mbaitoli Local Government Area (LGA) of Imo State, South-East region of the country, is a devout Catholic, former mass servant and chorister in his homestead.

By dint of hard work, divine support, and determination to succeed, has since taken the digital space by storm, having built Zinox Group, one of the biggest and most thriving ICT conglomerates out of Africa from a modest desktop publishing outpost. He is also the Chairman of Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation (LSEF).

Quality education as a ‘great turning point’

After his secondary education at the Holy Ghost College, Owerri, Imo State capital, Ekeh later headed for India for his University education, where he received a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) Degree in Economics from Punjab University.

The exceptional ICT icon once disclosed that studying in India was “a great turning point in my life because I found the economy of India a realistic economy”.

He later studied for, and earned a Master of Science (M.Sc) Degree in Risk Management from the University of Nottingham, in the United Kingdom (UK).

With a values-based background, fully integrated into the Christian faith, and a relentless pioneering mind-set from childhood, Leo Stan has described himself as an “orphan and only child” in the world of independent-mindedness, critical thinking, innovation, and digital disruptions to become great today.

According to him, not in the classical sense of having no human parents and siblings, but on account of his fate of having always to “walk alone” in terms of creative abilities, act as his own adviser, and being the first to take a leap.

This admirable trait of his, over the last decades, has set him apart as Africa’s foremost serial pioneer digital entrepreneur.

Ekeh, a serial digital entrepreneur, disruptor and innovator

Most times, it requires a steely resolve to conceive, polish and execute entrepreneurial ideas in Nigeria due to multifarious factors, ranging from poor electricity supply, paucity of funds, and mostly inclement business climate.

Undeterred by these extant challenges, however, as a forerunner of contemporary innovators and disruptors in the continent’s digital ecosystem, Ekeh’s clear far-sightedness and modern digital skills set with a high sense of integrity have continued to place him at the cutting edge of every competition in the digital space.

Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, CEO of Konga, won Forbes Best of Africa E-Commerce Leadership Award 2025 and the Distinguished EuroKnowledge Award for Emerging Leadership in Digital Transformation at the House of Lords, London, UK     Photo: Zinox Group 

Daring apparent odds in the system, Ekeh established Task Systems Limited, in 1989 (for computer graphics and publishing); Zinox in 2001 (for IT and systems security infrastructure); and Buyright Africa Dotcom Limited in 2008 (for establishing reliable bridges with international finance groups, and the introduction of communication technologies, process and productivity).

Now, the Chairman of Zinox Group bestrides his home-grown but globally competitive Zinox Group with diverse business interests, extending from ICT, banking and finance, oil and gas, properties to e-Commerce with offices across Africa, Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Europe and Asia.

In what he personally acknowledged as a challenging but fulfilling business life with gratitude to God, Nigerians, and humanity at large, Ekeh established Zinox Technologies Limited, in 2001, to manufacture personal computers (PCs).

To make far-reaching impact on the continent’s digital ecosystem, he had ensured that at launch of the tech company, Zinox Computers already had the WHQL certification, the first in sub-Saharan Africa, which consolidated five years later with the attainment of the NIS ISO 2000: 9001 QMS Certification to be able to play big thereafter.

In a game-changing move, Zinox in October 2013, announced the production of its computer tablet line branded “Z-Pad”, a new product that caught the attention of millions of digital consumers in Nigeria, other economies on the African continent and beyond.

Generally described as a courageous and unstoppable techpreneur and disruptor, Ekeh’s Zinox Technologies, February 2018, also acquired Konga.com from its former owners, buying up 99 percent of the total company shares becoming the biggest shareholder.

How Zinox laid a foundation for Nigeria’s ‘digital democracy’

Undoubtedly, Ekeh’s innovative and trail-blazing Zinox Technologies has contributed immensely to laying the much-needed foundation for Nigeria’s “digital democracy”, as well the country’s digital future. The footprints are simply obvious to ignore.

It is anticipated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has continued to build upon the tech company’s indigenous pioneering efforts till this day.

Leveraging the company’s strength and international partnerships of Zinox to salvage Nigeria’s voter registration exercise debacle by delivering estimated 11,500 DDC (Direct Data Capture) machines in 14 days for the 2007 polls.

It was gathered the transaction marked an epochal introduction of technology into the electoral process and ended the duplicity that hallmarked the voter register.

Zinox Technologies as a well-reputed for its competence, corporate integrity and capacity to deliver, in 2010, repeated the feat earlier recorded in 2007, as it secured the INEC contract worth over $200 million.

The company supported the West African country in securing credible elections through speedy and effective deployment of ICT tools and equipment, especially with its home-grown technologies −DDC machines, Z-Pad smart devices− for voter registration within 35 days.

The voter registration exercise reportedly involved 120, 000 polling units nationwide in 2011, besides 10 percent redundancies in the event of breakdowns, totalling 132, 000 DDC machines procured for the voter registration across Nigeria.

In the process, INEC, hitherto faced with the national consensus against the existing analogue voter register and the severe time constraint before the approaching General Elections, the Commission had to adopt the Direct Data Capture machines, and captured the data of 73.5 million eligible Nigerian voters in barely three weeks while some two multinationals failed to deliver on schedule.

According to INEC, a profound “secret” that the Commission had kept away from Nigerians regarding its Election Server during the 2011 General Elections was the deployment of Zinox Technologies’ Z-Pad smart devices to send collated election results to its central Server on the election day.

Lessons in personal cum corporate integrity for sustainability  

Reflecting the aphoristic saying that whatever is bred in the bone will definitely come out in the flesh regarding his strength of character, Dr. Ekeh has continuously emphasised and lived the ultimate essence of personal cum business integrity for sustainable success in one’s endeavours.

The Chairman of Zinox Group, after a rigorous selection process, again, led his company to secure an N85 billion national census project earlier planned for 2023 from the National Population Commission (NPC), an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Zinox Chief, who had argued that without a credible data census figure, the country could not plan well, led the company to win the bid to supply technology components and other accessories, including Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) devices required for the success of the proposed nationwide enumeration in Nigeria.

Sequel to the Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) due approval for the project, credible sources from the Nigerian Government disclosed reasons Zinox Technologies emerged the undisputed and preferred technical partners for the census exercise after scaling a rigorous bid process involving other local and international competitors.

Top sources in late ex-President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and within the NPC revealed that Zinox effortlessly, enjoyed an overwhelming endorsement of the Federal Government, based on the company’s affirmed capacity, experience, integrity, and ethical standing among other bidders.

Besides, Ekeh’s conglomerate even scored a higher rating as an indigenous technology powerhouse with global connections, having consistently enjoyed the confidence of leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), and other global tech giants over time.

Speaking on the company’s indisputable capacity to deliver, Mrs. Kelechi Eze-Okonta, Managing Director of Zinox Technologies Limited, was quoted to have said: “It is a privilege for the Federal Government to consider us among many other companies in the world.

“They know we have the capacity. We are deploying all our resources to make sure it is successful.”

Sharing his personal experiences in handling certain corporate blackmail and disturbing propaganda, Dr. Ekeh, during an end-of-year inspirational talk to a select group of young Nigerian entrepreneurs, monitored 2025, in Lagos, opened up on the perils of corporate blackmail, the centrality of a high level of honesty of purpose in sustaining business success, and what entrepreneurs could learn from them.

As a boardroom technocrat with decades of experience at his fingertips, he unequivocally, urged Nigerian entrepreneurs to prioritise integrity, due diligence, and resilience in navigating the country’s challenging business environment.

He particularly recounted his long-drawn battle with corporate blackmail, involving Benjamin Joseph, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Citadel Oracle Concepts Limited, in a controversy that dated back to 2012.

The battle royale had involved Joseph’s company, which was among 13 companies awarded a Federal Inland Revenue Service contract for the supply of HP laptops.

But procurement for the project was mandated through authorised distributors, including TD Africa Limited, a subsidiary of the Zinox Group and largest HP partner in the country.

As other companies honoured similar agreements, disputes however, arose when the CEO of Citadel purportedly attempted to divert funds from a dedicated account, lodged with Access Bank Plc.

Princess Kama, authorised representative of Joseph’s company in the deal quickly intervened, enabling TD Africa to recover its dues in the process.

According to Ekeh, Kama’s intervention in not allowing Citadel to short-change TD Africa later strained the relationship between Joseph and the representative.

The outcome eventually, led to a series of petitions and allegations by Joseph against TD Africa and Zinox Group.

Ekeh revealed that the allegations prompted extensive investigations, including the involvement of foreign-certified detectives,

He disclosed “these investigations, along with inquiries by the FIRS and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), exonerated TD Africa, confirming the validity of the transactions.

“They also established that Joseph had authorised the procurement, and that the laptops were delivered and payments duly processed.”

Despite series of court judgements in favour of Zinox Technologies with N20 million in damages against him, Joseph “persisted in filing petitions and spreading misinformation through media outlets, targeting Zinox Technologies and its leadership.”

Relating the experience to young entrepreneurs, Ekeh stressed that Joseph’s actions, allegedly backed by competitors and influential allies in the economy, almost frustrated Zinox’s digital census contract got from the Federal Government, valued at over $250 million.

Without engaging the blackmailers in any form of harassment, violence, or underhand dealing to hit back at them, he rather waited to prove his case in court.

With a combination of divine grace, experience, corporate integrity, and time-tested ethical standing of his business conglomerate, Ekeh and his business empire were cleared from the distracting blackmail and propaganda.

He rather encouraged young entrepreneurs to stay vigilant against blackmailers. Again, he restated the strategic role of integrity and technological advancements in overcoming such challenges.

“Learn from my experience. Never engage with blackmailers, as technology will soon render them obsolete in the tech ecosystem,” Ekeh averred.

Honours, recognitions and awards for Africa’s digital torchbearer

For an irresistibly intelligent professional, who has continued to make indelible marks in the sands of Africa’s digital ecosystem over the last 40 years, both in his private and public life, Leo Stan has several awards, accolades, recognitions and trophies to his credit from both the private and public sectors of the Nigerian economy, the continent, and the global world.

Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, on October 1, 2001, named LSE “Icon of Hope”, a symbolic emblem that prodigiously speaks to his heralding of a new threshold of hope for Nigeria and its teeming, vibrant, and tech-savvy youths.

Besides these, the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) National Honour was bestowed on him by the Federal Government.

He has also been rewarded with a couple of national medals.

Late Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, in 2019, honoured this digital icon alongside Alhaji Aliko Aliko Dangote, President/Chief Executive of Dangote Group, and other worthy Nigerians with the National Productivity Order of Merit (NPOM) Award.

He equally merited and bagged the Microsoft Global Adviser, dozens of national and international awards and several Honorary Doctorate Degrees (Honoris Causa) from Nigerian universities.

There is no hiding place for a golden fish, as the international system over time had acknowledged the entrepreneurial spirit, digital acumen and corporate capacity of the continent’s torch bearer of digital transformation.

Ekeh, in 2021, received the Forbes Certificate of Distinction under the Best of Africa Category the “Leading Tech Icon Award”.

Explaining that the rare award for Ekeh is no mean feat, Forbes Africa describes an Icon as “someone who has held true to realise socially positive goals against great challenges and odds, who has lived to tell the tale, who inspires others in a positive way, and who leaves behind a legacy of uplifting work.” He surely fits into this mould of people of positive impact.

‘I shall be a journalist my next life’

Leo Stan is, undeniably, a true friend of the Nigerian media as the significant Fourth Estate of the Realm in any worthy and progressive economy.

Fully aware of the fact that change or transition in any organisation does not come easy, Ekeh rather took up the gauntlet, and broached the idea of equipping several hitherto analogue newsrooms with modern computers and other digital to enhance journalists’ job and boost productivity.

An apostle of media advocacy for sustainable empowerment of all sorts with what he has fondly described as “token” of support for decades, Zinox Technologies, over the years, has also updated several Nigerian media professionals and entrepreneurs with the much needed skills to scale, excel, and become more profitable in their digital or Web publishing endeavour.

Of note was the three-day social media training, which Zinox Group organised and fully sponsored for select media partners and entrepreneurs August 2025, at Zinox Group Headquarters, in Lagos.

A team of competent in-house resource persons from the conglomerate took the participants through enlightening modules in adopting technology, including the AI, essentials of copywriting, content-boosting strategies, episodic brand storytelling, and captioning to situate their news media platforms and keep their audience engaged anywhere across the globe.

Could Ekeh have been a media professional, rather than a digital icon and tech professional of repute that he truly is today?

Appreciating the excellent editorial skill exhibited in a special report on one of his LSE Foundation’s several University empowerment initiatives, which was published in this multimedia news publication April 2024, Dr. Ekeh in his WhatsApp message responded thus: “My brother, thanks a lot; I appreciate. I frankly love the way you packaged it. I shall be a journalist my next life.”

As the Chairman of Zinox Group clocks 70 at the weekend, Mr. Tim Akano, Managing Director of New Horizons, who is also a beneficiary of Ekeh’s big-heartedness, noted in his recent published article, titled: “Leo Stan Ekeh: A ‘Rare Avis’, an Unconquerable Entrepreneur”, that one should congratulate LSE’s children: they have a great father in and his legendary generosity will always speak for them up to the 4th generation. Hearty congratulations, Dr. LSE!

*Kayode is Executive Editor of ConsumerConnect, a multimedia news publication and Web site published in Lagos.

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