One of Africa’s leading digital entrepreneur and Chairman, Zinox
Group, Dr. Leo-Stan Ekeh may have decided to quit as the Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) of the group by 2021, reports ITREALMS.
This hint was gathered by ITREALMS
from one of Ekeh's closest confidante that going by his tone at the recent Zinox
Group corporate retreat held in April, it is clear he will retire as Group CEO
when he turns 65 in 2021.
ITREALMS source who
pleaded anonymity, said Ekeh's target is to achieve a tech group worth $10B in
valuation by this time and if he realizes it, he intends to change the lives of
his devoted employees by making every management staff in the group who has
served him loyally a billionaire and others millionaires before retiring into
full-time research in the technology sector and social work.
"This is his ambition and I hope he realizes this,
especially considering the turbulent Nigerian economy. This was one of the
reasons his group did not retrench any staff during the last economic recession,
an unprecedented feat that is highly commendable in view of the gale of
retrenchment that greeted the economic downturn," the source disclosed.
Confirming the development, Corporate Communications Advisor,
Zinox Group, Mr. Echika Ezuka disclosed that Ekeh’s decision to call time on
his stellar career as arguably the continent’s foremost technology entrepreneur
is one that was taken after deep consideration, as it would afford him more
time to focus on his other humanitarian interests.
Ekeh, who was honoured by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the
occasion of Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary on October 1st 2002 for his
sustained pioneering efforts in the area of Information and Communications
Technology (ICT) and as a model for modern Nigerian youths, has been consistent
with several technology innovations in Nigeria and beyond.
In addition to pioneering Desktop Publishing and Computer
Graphics in Nigeria with his first Company – Task Systems Ltd, Mr. Ekeh also
pioneered the deployment of digital dispensing pumps in Nigeria in partnership
with Elf Petroleum and Schlumberger, France through his company Stanoil. He launched the first ICT support Company in
Nigeria – ITEC Solutions Ltd. and also pioneered structured ICT Distribution in
West Africa with the launch of Technology Distributions Ltd. which has remained
the biggest distributors in the West African sub-region.
Renowned for his disruptive business mindset and unerring eye
for detail, Ekeh equally enjoys the status of manufacturing the first local and
internationally certified computer brand in Sub-Saharan Africa through Zinox
Technologies Ltd., manufacturers of Zinox brand of computers and digital
devices.
Ekeh is credited with the biometric digital revolution in
Nigeria, having delivered the INEC Voters’ registration in 2006 when foreign
contractors could not deliver after months of promises. He again supervised the
biggest single ICT digital rollout in Africa with INEC in 2010 as well as the
largest single e-Library and Wireless cloud rollout project on the continent
through one of his companies – Zinox Technologies Ltd.
The serial digital entrepreneur has also been involved with
companies such as ICT Brokers, TD Plus, ICT Connect and the launch of Africa’s
first ever e-commerce outfit, Buyright Africa. He also recently expanded the
Zinox Group with the addition of Konga, Nigeria’s e-commerce giants after
acquiring the company from previous majority investors, Naspers and AB
Kinnevik. Ekeh also has major interests in a few companies located in other
continents including Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East.
Interestingly, Ekeh has also been credited with pioneering
paternity leave in Nigeria when he introduced it in his company a few years
ago.
He has received over 85 high-profile awards and served on a good
number of Federal Government Committees in the last 15 years including the
strategic Nigeria Thinkers,
Presidential Committee for Job Creation, ICT Roadmap, among many others.
His retirement will come as a surprise to many, especially in
view of his very active lifestyle, devotion to healthy living and Spartan
discipline which has made him look much younger than his years.
Chuks Egbune/GEE
Pix: Dr. Leo-Stan Ekeh, Chairman/CEO, Zinox Group
