When the history of Africa’s transition from the analogue age to the Fourth Industrial Revolution is written, the preface will undoubtedly belong to a man who saw the future when Nigeria was still grappling with the basics of the present.
Today, Sunday, February 22, 2026, Chief Leonard Stanley Nnamdi Ekeh, famously known as Leo Stan Ekeh, has hit the milestone of 70 years.
For those of us in the media who have occupied front-row seats to the evolution of the Nigerian tech ecosystem, this isn’t just a birthday; it is a celebration of institutional resilience.
In a country where the average lifespan of a business rarely outlives its founder’s initial capital, Leo Stan Ekeh has built a multi-vertical empire that has survived military decrees, currency devaluations, and global recessions.
The Genesis: Birthing a First in a Sceptical Nation
Long before Techbro became a buzzword in the ecosystem, Leo Stan was pioneering desktop publishing and computer graphics in Nigeria through Task Systems Ltd in the late 80s. However, his magnum opus arrived in 2001 with the launch of Zinox Technologies.
At the time, the Nigerian market was flooded with foreign brands, IBM, HP, and Compaq. The idea of an indigenous computer was met with profound skepticism.
Yet, Leo Stan didn’t just launch a brand; he secured the first-ever WHQL (Windows Hardware Quality Labs) certification for an African hardware brand.
By October 2001, Zinox became the first internationally certified branded computer in Sub-Saharan Africa. This wasn’t mere vanity. It was an act of economic patriotism.
He understood that for Africa to be truly competitive, it could not remain a perpetual consumer of foreign hardware. He democratized technology by making high-end computing affordable and, more importantly, tropicalized for the Nigerian power environment.
The Digital Sovereign: Rescuing the Nigerian State
Perhaps the most underrated aspect of Chief Ekeh’s career is his role as a National Tech First Responder. When the Nigerian government faced existential crises in data and democracy, they turned to the Zinox Group.
First, between 2006 and 2011when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) needed to transition to a digital voters’ register, the international community was skeptical of Nigeria’s capacity. Under Ekeh’s leadership, Zinox deployed thousands of Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines in record time, creating the foundation for Nigeria’s modern electoral integrity.
Secondly, the National Population Commission (NPC) around 2023 relied on the Zinox Group for the supply of high-end personal digital assistants (PDAs) and technical support for Nigeria’s first-ever digital census.
Ekeh proved that indigenous companies could handle Sovereign Tech with more precision and less cost than foreign contractors.
Acquisitions and the Konga Masterstroke
Leo Stan Ekeh is a predator in the boardroom, but one who hunts for the sake of survival and synergy. One of the most significant events in African e-commerce history was the 2018 acquisition of Konga by the Zinox Group.
At the time, Konga, a venture-backed pioneer, was bleeding cash and facing an uncertain future. Ekeh, through his son Nnamdi Ekeh, further proving his mettle in succession planning, merged the logistics of Yudala with the digital infrastructure of Konga.
Today, Konga is not just an e-commerce site; it is a logistics powerhouse (K-Express), a fintech player (KongaPay), and a health-tech provider (Konga Health).
This acquisition silenced critics who believed that Nigerian-led e-commerce was a death trap for capital.
He applied the TD Africa (Technology Distributions) philosophy, the largest technology distribution sub-structure in Sub-Saharan Africa, to e-commerce, ensuring that the last mile was no longer a hurdle but a competitive advantage. Today, TD Africa is present in 43 African countries and counting!
My personal Experience with Chief Leo Stan Ekeh
At the turn of 2018, I received an unexpected call from a respected industry leader informing me that I was required at the headquarters of Zinox Group. As a journalist, my instinct was naturally tilted toward breaking a major story. The possibility of an exclusive scoop was all that occupied my mind as I made my way there.
However, upon arrival, I quickly realized that the invitation was not about a news lead. Instead, it was an impromptu interview for the position of Communications Officer at Zinox Group.
Events unfolded rapidly. Within a short time, I found myself standing before the Chairman. Seated in his office was none other than veteran journalist Ray Ekpu, a figure I had long admired in the media industry. The moment felt surreal.
The Chairman’s first question was direct:
“I understand you are reporting for a leading industry news platform. Which one?”
I replied confidently that I was with Nigeria CommunicationsWeek.
He responded firmly, “No.”
For a brief moment, I was taken aback. Sensing my unease, he added with a reassuring smile, “I cannot kill my baby.” He went on to explain that my publisher, Mr. Ken Nwogbo, was a valued associate and friend. He would not undermine that relationship by attempting to poach one of his key team members.
That encounter left a lasting impression on me.
At Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, I had poured myself fully into the brand, championing its vision and contributing passionately to its growth. To this day, I remain proud of that association.
Yet beyond the unexpected career twist, I took away deeper lessons from the Chairman’s disposition, lessons in loyalty, professional ethics, and the importance of long-standing relationships in business. It was a defining moment that reshaped my understanding of leadership: that true leaders value integrity above immediate gain and protect relationships even when opportunity beckons.
In hindsight, what began as a presumed quest for a scoop became instead a masterclass in character.
The Survivor: The Cat with Nine Lives
Again, I felt that character disposition of Chairman while he faced what he termed ‘Corporate Blackmail’ orchestrated by Benjamin Joseph of Citadel Oracle Concepts Ltd, an Enugu indigene based in Ibadan.
While the battled lasted for over 11 years, chairman never felt uneasy each time we have media chat with him. I would throw up questions in that direction. He maintained that what he faced was persecution and not prosecution. (See more here)
Suffice to say, chairman’s journey to 70 has not been a walk through a silicon valley of roses. Chief Ekeh is the proverbial cat with nine lives. He has fought legal and reputational battles that would have buried a man of lesser conviction.
While peers in the industry kissed the dust during regulatory crackdowns or hostile takeovers, Ekeh stood.
His survival isn’t just luck; it is a combination of meticulous corporate governance and a deep-seated spirit of worship. Many who work close to him know him as a man of profound faith, a worshipper of God who credits his boardroom victories to divine strategy rather than just human intellect.
Democratizing Africa’s Tech Future
Today, TD Africa stands as a household name, representing global giants like Microsoft, HP, Cisco, and Dell across the continent. By building a distribution network that spans the hinterlands, Ekeh didn’t just sell boxes; he built the nervous system of the African digital economy.
Statistics show that the Zinox Group has indirectly created over 100,000 jobs across the continent through its partner ecosystem.
His philanthropic arm, the Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation, has spent billions of Naira on scholarships and entrepreneurship grants, quietly building the next generation of Leos.
The Legacy at 70
As Chief Leo Stan Ekeh turns 70, he remains a Pan-African global citizen. He has proved that a boy from Imo State can dream in binary and build in bricks. He has shown that Indigenous does not mean Inferior.
He has seen the ups and downs of birthing ideas, some that flew instantly and others that required a decade of grit to mature. But through it all, he has remained consistent.
A Prayer for the Chairman: As you step into this platinum jubilee, may the Almighty God, whom you serve with such devotion, grant you renewed vigour. May your nine lives continue to be a shield against the arrows of the envious. We pray that your vision for a $1 trillion Nigerian economy, powered by the digital youth you have championed, becomes a reality in your lifetime. May your wisdom continue to be a lighthouse for the young entrepreneurs of Owerri, Lagos, Nairobi, and Johannesburg.
Happy 70th Birthday, Chief Leonard Stanley Nnamdi Ekeh. Africa is better because you dared to believe.
Fact Sheet for the Leo Stan Ekeh at 70 milestone:
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Date of Birth: February 22, 1956.
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Key Establishment: Zinox Technologies now Group (2001).
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Major Acquisition: Konga (2018).
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Distribution Powerhouse: TD Africa (Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest distributor).
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Philanthropy: Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation.
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National Honors: Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR).
