Leo Stan Ekeh’s biography, fact, career, awards, net worth and life story

Early life

Ekeh was born in Ubomiri Mbaitoli, Imo State to a middle-class family with three brothers and two sisters. His mother was a dietician, and his father was a nurse.

Education

He attended Holy Ghost College, Owerri for his secondary education. When young, he wanted to own the biggest transport company in Nigeria.

He later went to India for his university education, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Punjab University. Ekeh believes that studying in India was “a great turning point in my life because I 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.

Business Career

Mr. Ekeh through his company Task Systems Limited was one of the few who pioneered Desktop Publishing and Computer Graphics in Nigeria. He computerized 95% of the Print Media, Publishing Houses and Advertising Agencies in Nigeria. Task Systems Limited, his first company has consistently won outstanding industry Awards as Best Partner Award for Compaq, HP, Microsoft, American Power Solution, APC, etc. for 20 years. Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh also 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.

Mr. Ekeh 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.

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. 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.

Controversy

In September 2016, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission question Ekeh and two other officials of the Zinox Technologies Limited over a contract fraud allegation worth approximately N170 million. The alleged fraud began in 2012 and the investigation was begun in 2013. Ekeh denies any wrongdoing.

Awards/Recognitions

Leo Stan Ekeh has won over 60 Awards. A few are listed below –

• Icon of Hope (President Olusegun Obasanjo) 1 October 2002
• Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, OFR
• Fellow of the Nigerian Computer Society, FNCS
• ICT personality of the Year
• Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) Imo State University, Owerri
• Doctor of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) Federal University of Agric, Makurdi
• Doctor of Technology (Honoris Causa) Federal University of Technology, Owerri.
• Doctor of Science (Honorary) University of Jos
• Corporate Citizen of the Year Award 2002/2003, Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria.
• Information Technology Personality of the Year 2002 Award (IT & Telecom Digest)
• Fellow of the Lagos State Polytechnic, Lagos.
• Fellow of the Federal Polytechnic, Idah.
• Fellow of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri, Imo State
• Distinguished Fellow of the Nigeria Law School
• 2003 Nigerian Science and Technology Achiever of the Year
• Life Membership, Nigerian Institute of International Affairs
• Director – Nigerian Economic Summit Group