There is an African proverb that says, “What an elder sees sitting down, a young man cannot see even if he climbs a tree.”
This timeless wisdom speaks to the far-reaching foresight of elders and pioneers whose quiet convictions and brave steps shape futures others have yet to imagine.
Often, it is on the solid foundation of their sacrifices that newer generations advance.
Nigeria’s flourishing digital ecosystem owes a profound debt to such visionary ar-chitects, individuals who, with unwavering resolve, laid the first stones for the techno-logical advancements the nation now builds upon.
Among these titans stands Leo Stan Ekeh, the Chairman of Zinox Group, a name syn-onymous with pioneering spirit and an en-during belief in Nigeria’s latent potential.
His narrative, punctuated by pivotal deci-sions and unwavering commitment, offers invaluable insights for aspiring entrepre-neurs who recently gathered to glean wis-dom from his extensive experience.
Ekeh’s journey, far from being a linear ascent, is a testament to the power of con-viction in the face of formidable odds.
While responding to questions from par-ticipants, he laid bare the purpose and chal-lenges of his entrepreneurial journey.
Ekeh’s trajectory into the annals of Af-rica’s tech pioneers began with a defining moment of conviction.
Upon graduating from the University of Punjab in India, he headed to Cork City University, Ireland for a post graduate study in Computer science, Ekeh was presented with enticing offers from globally renowned corporations, including the allure of Silicon Valley giant Apple.
However, his compass pointed homeward, driven by a compelling vision: “to build and create faith in our digital economy and, cru-cially, to equip the next generation with the requisite capacity to navigate the impending digital storm”.
This decision, eschewing immediate per-sonal gain for a long-term national aspira-tion, demonstrated his ability to see oppor-tunities where others saw obstacles.
Ekeh’s transformative influence began early in his career when he pioneered the modernization of Nigeria’s media and multi-media industry.
He revolutionised operations at major publishing houses, including University Press, Longman, Daily Times, Punch, and Vanguard, just to mention a few and intro-duced Desktop Publishing and Computer Graphics technologies that fundamentally changed how Nigerian media houses oper-ated.
His contributions to the advertising sector established foundations that would later sup-port Nigeria’s burgeoning creative economy.
His strategic acumen manifested in his ability to attract and solidify partnerships with global tech firms. Through his per-sistent efforts and unwavering vision, Ni-geria today boasts a significant presence of leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), including the likes of HP, Micro-soft, Apple, Starlink, IBM, Dell Technologies, Amazon, Cisco, Lenovo, APC by Schneider Electric, Samsung, Bosch, Philips, Logitech, and Vivo, among others.
This influx of global players has not only injected technological expertise and invest-ment into the Nigerian market but has also created a more competitive and innovative environment. All these my generation now enjoys the fruits of.
Perhaps one of Ekeh’s most significant contributions to Nigeria’s democratic pro-cess was his role in transitioning the country from analogue to digital democracy as early as 2006.
In 2010, he delivered the biggest single ICT digital rollout in Africa through his partner-ship with the Independent National Elector-al Commission (INEC).
This massive technological deployment brought a level of sanity to Nigeria’s elec-toral process despite the political machina-tions that often characterize the country’s democratic exercises. His company, Zinox Technologies, executed a similar project in Guinea Bissau.
Beyond electoral systems, Ekeh’s tech-nological innovations extended to Nigeria’s energy sector. Not only did he pioneer the deployment of digital dispensing pumps for petrol and gas stations across Nigeria, but he also provided crucial technical backbone support for multinational corporations like Shell, Chevron, Total, CBN deploying hun-dreds of professional engineers to ensure seamless operations for these industry gi-ants.
His impact transcends Nigeria’s borders. In Gambia, Ekeh delivered the largest single e-Library and Wireless Cloud rollout project, demonstrating his commitment to advanc-ing digital infrastructure across the African continent.
Today, Ekeh’s influence extends far be-yond the ICT sector, as the Zinox Group has evolved into a global conglomerate with di-versified interests spanning e-commerce, real estate, pharmaceuticals, entertainment, and more. His indelible mark remains etched upon the technological landscape of Africa.
Despite encountering significant chal-lenges, enduring substantial losses, and weathering various forms of blackmail from which he emerged victorious, Ekeh remained steadfast in his belief in Nigeria’s inherent possibilities.
Nigeria now boasts hundreds of thriv-ing tech businesses and a growing digital economy. In the 1990s, Nigeria’s digital econ-omy was virtually non-existent, with tele-communications penetration below 0.5% and internet access limited to a few elite institutions.
In 2024, ICT contributed over 19.78% to GDP, driven by 163 million internet users, a thriving fintech ecosystem processing N611 trillion in transactions in 2023, and e-com-merce growth exceeding $13 billion annually.
Nigeria’s digital economy now boasts a staggering valuation of $700 billion.
Besides building faith in our economy, Ekeh has developed human capital.
His businesses have championed initia-tives to nurture the next generation of tech professionals. During the graduation cer-emony of 400 female tech professionals in March this year, he unveiled an ambitious plan to produce over 10,000 female tech pro-fessionals in the next five years. This move is poised to bridge gender gaps in a sector historically dominated by men.
Ekeh’s influence is etched into the very fabric of Nigeria’s tech evolution. His path from turning down offers from Silicon Val-ley to creating a domestic tech company is a shining example of visionary leadership.
Today, as Nigeria reaps the benefits of a rapidly growing digital economy, it is clear that the groundwork was laid by pioneers like him, who saw tomorrow’s possibilities long before they materialised.
As Nigeria strides into an era of unprec-edented technological advancement, the lessons from Ekeh’s journey remain indis-pensable: see beyond the immediate, build with purpose, and always prepare the next generation for the challenges and opportu-nities ahead.
His advice to young entrepreneurs is par-ticularly poignant: remain focused and avoid being distracted by some respected individ-uals who, through their corrupt deeds, act against the country’s best interests.
True patriotism, he emphasizes, lies in building systems that serve the nation’s long-term prosperity rather than personal gain.