Tayo Oviosu, the journey from Software program Engineer to Pagatech

Rated as one of many high tech CEOs in Nigeria in line with Ventures Africa, Leonard Stanley Ekeh has earned a reputation for himself by his contributions to Africa’s ICT house. Along with his tech start-ups relationship again to the 80s, Ekeh may be put within the bracket of visionaries who noticed that ICT would outline the world in no distant time.

This week on Nairametrics Founders Profile, the highlight is on Leo Stan Ekeh, as he’s now popularly identified.

Leo Stan Ekeh was born in Imo state on February 22, 1956 to a Dietician mum and Nurse dad. He had his early training in Owerri, and upon commencement from Holy Ghost School, Owerri, he emigrated to India the place he obtained BSc. Economics from Punjab College.

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This step marked a turning level in his thought course of, as he was uncovered to the Indian economic system which he described as ‘real looking’. He then shifted from his plans to personal “the largest transport firm in Nigeria” and began pondering of extra real looking enterprise concepts, which might affect the Nigerian economic system. He moved on to England the place he bagged a Postgraduate diploma in Threat Administration on the Nottingham College.

His return to Nigeria noticed him spearhead the creation of a number of tech firms.

Process System Restricted

This was Ekeh’s first start-up in Nigeria. The ICT options firm commenced operations in 1989 to concentrate on desktop publishing and laptop graphics. Over the past three a long time, the corporate prolonged operations from Lagos to Port Harcourt and Abuja, implementing a number of ICT initiatives throughout the Oil & Fuel, Telecoms, Manufacturing, and Public sectors.

The corporate has computerized 95 p.c of Print media, Publishing homes, and Promoting businesses in Nigeria; with a number of excellent business awards to its credit score, together with Finest Companion Award for Compaq, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard (HP) and many others.

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Zinox Applied sciences Restricted

ZInox Applied sciences is the model which introduced Ekeh to the forefront of Africa’s tech house and for which he’s well-liked for. The corporate was based in 2001 and have become the primary internationally licensed branded laptop OEM (Authentic Tools Producer) in West Africa.

As well as, Zinox is the primary to obtain Home windows {Hardware} High quality Labs (WHQL) certification, and in addition the primary laptop {hardware} manufacturing firm and ICT integration firm in Nigeria to obtain ISO 9001-2000.

Zinox creates enterprise options that makes use of new applied sciences to streamline methods, effectively align, combine, and maximise productiveness. Its merchandise are famend for his or her safety and IT infrastructure. The corporate has helped to revolutionize the electoral processes in a number of African nations like Nigeria, The Gambia, and Guinea-Bissau.

Zinox is the one native OEM associate of Microsoft and Intel company in Nigeria. It was not too long ago rated by Worldwide Knowledge Company (IDC) because the No.1 model by way of laptop gross sales amongst native and worldwide manufacturers in Nigeria.

Ekeh additionally launched Zinox Computer systems – Nigeria’s first internationally licensed branded computer systems, which comes with a Naira signal and an influence provide designed to be appropriate with the nation’s unstable energy provide.

READ: Konga’s turnover will increase by 800%, as firm claims to be self-sufficient

Buyright Africa Dotcom Restricted

In 2008, Ekeh based Buyright Africa Dotcom Restricted at a time when bank card and e-payment infrastructures have been nonetheless alien to Nigerians. The goal of the start-up was to resolve funding points for ICT initiatives and corporations, by partnerships with sturdy worldwide finance teams.

Throughout the subsequent couple of years, Buyright Africa launched full operation to assist Africans take pleasure in the advantages of rising applied sciences and construct know-how energy that may permit her residents, governments, and companies compete favourably with different sturdy economies of the world.

Buyright Africa executes and funds ICT initiatives, gear leasing, possession scheme and different associated concepts in Africa. It additionally provides ICT consultancy providers and gross sales of ICT merchandise, infrastructures, and digital instruments to instructional establishments and governments, by its partnership with worldwide and native ICT firms.

Describing the imaginative and prescient, Mr. Mukoro Emomine, Managing Director of Buyright Africa stated the corporate was out to work with producers, to be able to cut back the whole value of possession of ICT gear in Africa and in addition encourage utilization.

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Konga.com

Konga.com was based in July 2012 by Sim Shagaya as a third-party on-line market, and a first-party direct retail in numerous classes of client items and merchandise.

In February 2018, Zinox acquired 99% of Konga.com shares only a few months after Konga laid off over half its employees. Three months later, Konga merged with Zinox’s retail outfit – Yudala to type the largest e-commerce firm in Africa. Below the brand new merger, the model identify Konga was retained.

Different companies

Leo Stan Ekeh additionally based Know-how Distribution Restricted, Process Direct Restricted and ITEC Options, utilizing them to drive IT options and distribution in West Africa.

He has additionally been concerned with ICT Brokers, and ICT Join. Information not too long ago made the rounds that Ekeh was the person behind the Healthplus takeover, however Ekeh distanced himself from such rumours,

“Until date, I don’t have a kobo share in any of their funding autos, together with a kobo share in Healthplus. Though, everybody has a proper to spend money on any firm of his or her selection.”

CSR initiatives and recognitions

According to his curiosity and devotion to the expansion of IT in Nigeria, Ekeh launched the Computerize Nigeria Undertaking in August 2000, to encourage improvement and sensitize Nigerians in the usage of computer systems. He additionally launched the CANi Scheme, offering laptops to younger Nigerians at a decreased worth, with a compensation plan unfold throughout 24 months.

By way of his charity organisation, Leo Stan Ekeh Basis, he has carried out different commendable humanitarian and philanthropic donations throughout the nation.

He was bestowed with the ICON of Hope award by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on October 1, 2002; Nigerian Science & Know-how Achiever of the Yr 2003; and Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (OFR) in 2004. Ekeh can also be a member of the Nigerian Financial Summit Group, and holds Life Membership, Nigeria Institute of Worldwide Affairs.

He holds Honorary Doctorate in Enterprise Administration from Imo State College, Owerri; Federal College of Agriculture, Makurdi; and Federal College of Know-how, Owerri and College of Jos. He’s a Fellow of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Lagos; Federal Polytechnic, Idah; and Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State.

Solely 64 years previous, Leo Stan Ekeh continues to be going sturdy and there’s no telling what sector he may enterprise into subsequent. He not too long ago referred to as for the declaration of a Tech Independence Day, and confidently stated it’s only a matter of time earlier than Nigeria begins elevating tech billionaires that may rival the likes of Jeff Bezos and Jack Ma.

Ekeh was price $1 billion as of June, 2018 in line with Enterprise Insider by Pulse.ng.