Leo Ekeh transitioned through digital revolution built from grass to global grace
By Tony Nwakaegho, Editor, Gentechnews
In the early years of Nigeria’s struggle towards finding its foothold in the global digital economy, many in Nigeria saw the opportunity in emerging technologies but few had the audacity to pursue this digital revolution. Among those who had the courage and tenacity to break through the challenges stands Leonard Stanley Nnamdi Ekeh, better known as Leo Stan Ekeh — the visionary founder and Chairman of Zinox Group.
Ekeh was born on February 22, 1956 in Ubomiri, Imo State, He had his secondary education at Holy Ghost College, Owerri, and pursued higher learning abroad, earning a degree in Economics from Punjab University in India and a postgraduate degree in Risk Management from the University of Nottingham in the United Kingdom.
Ekeh returned to Nigeria when much of Nigeria’s media and publishing industry was still largely analogue and founded Task Systems Limited in 1989, which was one of the country’s first companies dedicated to desktop publishing and computer graphics. His company helped introduced computers and digital workflows into newspapers, publishing houses, and advertising agencies transforming their operations. The emergence of Task Systems Limited beckoned the arrival of modern information and communications technology (ICT) in Nigeria’s business ecosystem.
Ekeh became the architect of digital distribution as he used The Technology Distributions Limited — today known as TD Africa founded in the late 1990s to bridge the structural gap in how technology can reach the African market making e-commerce, mobile phones, and cloud infrastructure, among others, a household name in Nigeria.
It emerged as the first systematic ICT distributor in West Africa, bridging global technology brands and local markets and formalising distribution channels, representing major global manufacturers — from HP, Dell, Samsung, Lenovo, APC by Schneider Electric, Bosch, Vivo, Philips with a footprint stretching across dozens of African countries.
Over time, the business expanded into mobile devices, lifestyle products and enterprise solutions, helping fast-track technology adoption from Lagos to Accra and beyond.
Under Ekeh’s direction, TD Africa in recent years has doubled down on future-focused infrastructure, partnering with global firms on next-generation data centre projects, marking a paradigm shift from hardware logistics to foundational digital infrastructure for the region.
TD Africa on 13th November 2024 launched TecHRdemmy equipping 400 young Nigerian women with critical digital skills.
Following the early successes and driven by a deeper vision of technological self-reliance, Ekeh moved to expand his footprint and in October 2001, he founded Zinox Technologies Limited, the flagship of what has become the Zinox Group. Zinox broke new ground with Zinox PCs at the time when locally assembled, internationally certified computer brand was a rarity in sub-Saharan Africa. Zinox PCs were among the first Nigerian-made computers to attain Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Lab Certification (WHQL) and later ISO 9001:2000 quality certification; First Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) in sub-Saharan Africa to receive Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Lab Certification; first Microsoft Prime Production Online Automation Partner in Sub-Saharan Africa with the OA Version 3.0; first Intel Premium Partner; first OEM in West Africa to attain the ISO 9001-2015 Certification; first to acquire the Google Mobile Application Distribution Agreement in West Africa; first OEM in Nigeria to introduce renewable energy and lifestyle products and attaining the status of Intel Platinum Partner in sub-Saharan Africa.
Zinox was also marked by bold innovation as the company introduced features that resonated with local users — such as keyboards bearing the Naira sign (₦) and power supplies designed to cope with Nigeria’s unstable electricity.
Under Ekeh’s leadership, Zinox was instrumental in supporting national development initiatives, such as providing digital infrastructure for Nigeria’s 2007 and 2011 electoral voter registration exercises, an achievement that showcased local capacity on a continental stage.
It is to its credit that it was Zinox that helped the nation’s voter registration exercise in 2006 and 2010 when big foreign tech companies contracted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could not deliver as scheduled.
Zinox used its Z-Pad smart device to lay the foundation for Nigeria’s digital democracy upon which INEC is building on today. The smooth execution of the over $200 million INEC contract in 2010 added impetus to the profile of Zinox as a strong indigenous company with capacity and competence.
Chairman, of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh, said that the company had built a system of integrity and a record of excellence, both in Nigeria and internationally.
Zinox also expanded beyond hardware into solutions like wireless cloud, WiMAX, digital fuel dispensing systems, and other technologies that helped modernize public and private operations across West Africa.
In 2023, the Federal Government, under the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration through the National Population Commission (NPC) signed a landmark deal with Nigeria’s integrated technology brand, Zinox, for the supply of the tech components and other accessories for the 2023 national census project.
The contract, worth over N85 billion, was awarded to Zinox after ratification by the Federal Executive Council(FEC).
A statement from Zinox, noted that the company, which has already commenced supply of the first batch of about 100,000 units of the Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) devices required for the nationwide enumeration, emerged as the preferred technical partner for the exercise after scaling a rigorous bid process involving other local and international competitors.
It was noted that Zinox met the rating as an indigenous technology powerhouse with global connections which has consistently enjoyed the confidence of leading Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and other tech heavyweights the world over. However, the National Population Census exercise has been put on hold by the current administration.
Recall, on October 9, 2001 at Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, history was made in Nigeria when Zinox, a wholly indigenous tech brand, was launched with many firsts and unique features.
After the launch, Obasanjo invited the management of Zinox to Aso Rock and endorsed the Zinox brand as a national pride. Obasanjo branded Ekeh: “Icon of Hope,” as a role model to future Nigerian digital entrepreneurs, a fitting cap for an exemplar of the true Nigerian spirit of chutzpah, excellence, innovation, humility and integrity.
Obasanjo was reported to have boldly flaunted the Zinox brand, travelling the world with it, not just as a user but as a national brand and pride and was never shy to show it to other world leaders that Nigerians can also produce computers.
In one of his books, Obasanjo, a prolific writer, celebrated Ekeh as a model for Nigerian youths. He topped the presidential admiration for Ekeh with the Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic, (OFR), one of the high-ranking honours of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as well as the National Productivity Order of Merit, and prestigious recognition as a leading tech icon by Forbes for his role in building one of Africa’s most influential integrated technology groups. Obasanjo never hid his admiration for Ekeh and his accomplishments as an indigenous player with global clout that on one occasion when President Obasanjo was hosting the nation’s captains of industry at State House, he singled out Ekeh and openly prayed for him, showering him with presidential blessings and publicly affirming his positive impact on Nigerian youths as a man who is living the Nigerian dream with hard work.
Furthermore, on account of the reliability of the Zinox brand and Obasanjo’s peerless sense of patriotism, he directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to standardise on Zinox and equivalent indigenous brands. This gave an offshoot to the growth of the Zinox brand and it became the preferred brand in the industry among public and private sector officials.
In 2018, Zinox made one of the boldest moves of its corporate journey, acquiring Konga.com, one of Nigeria’s biggest e-commerce platforms, merging it into a broader retail and digital ecosystem that positioned it as the intersection of technology and commerce on the continent.
Under Zinox’s leadership, Konga wasn’t just revived but was reimagined as a merger with the retail platform Yudala created a blended model that integrated physical retail with online shopping, boosting last-mile service and logistical efficiency unrivalled in many African markets.
Ekeh’s venture on omni-channel retail, logistics, and fintech (including Konga’s mobile money arm, KongaPay) was designed not merely to sell products, but to build a comprehensive commerce ecosystem tailored to Africa’s unique market dynamics.
Ekeh also established Konga Health, which is Nigeria’s leading technology enabled distributor of quality health and beauty products. It engages in skincare consultation, product sampling and expert-led tutorial to promote skincare education and wellness. The initiative kicked off in March 2025 to empower young adults with and tools to make informed skin care choices while fostering a culture of self-care and confidence.
As digital commerce continued its growth trajactory, Ekeh and the Zinox Group began exploring new interfaces between technology and everyday life and launched in 2025 a standout innovation, Konga 103.7FM, Nigeria’s first AI-powered music and commerce radio station. KongaFM blends entertainment with real-time commercial engagement — using data and technology to connect brands directly with consumers at what Ekeh calls the “last mile” of interaction.
Currently, KongaFM has gone beyond being just another radio station, as it was envisioned as a data-driven platform that elevates brand–consumer engagement, harnessing artificial intelligence to tailor content, storytelling and promotions in ways traditional media cannot.
KongaFM has become an interactive shopping destination, bringing in together millions of listeners and turning them into instant shoppers.
For many observers, Ekeh is more than an entrepreneur. He is a builder of ecosystems from hardware to software, logistics to media, commerce to consumer engagement and blessed with a digital family.
In Ekeh’s family, his wife, Mrs Chioma Ekeh is the Chief Executive Officer of TD Africa. His son, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, Oxford trained Whizkid is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Konga Group and Mrs Gozi Ijogun is the Chief Executive Officer of the Task Systems.
They have won a lot of awards in recognition of their outstanding performances: Digital father, Ekeh and Son, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh on Monday January 27, 2025 shared the podium as father was honoured as CEO of the year and Prince decorated as Young Global Leader award to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of ThisDay Newspapers and 12th Anniversary of Arise News respectively. In recent event, Prince Nnamdi Ekeh, Oxford trained Whizkid is the Group Chief Executive Officer of Konga Group was honoured with Forbes best of Africa E-Commence Leadership Award 2025 and Distinguished Euro Knowledge Award for emerging leadership in Digital Transformation at the Iconic House of Lords, London. TD Africa recently reaffirmed its leadership position in Africa’s technology ecosystem after emerging as “Distributor of the Year” at the Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) operated by Selectium, held recently at The George Hotel, Ikoyi, Lagos. Task Systems which promotes brand Nigeria won the Microsoft best partner award in USA in 2025.
Leo Stan Ekeh, indeed is an entrepreneurial majesty that has succeeded in creating digital mills from grass to global grace and has singlehandedly turned the global digital attention to Nigeria through the Zinox Group.
Tony Nwakaegho is the Editor of Gentechnews.com.ng
can be reached via tonyn974@gmail.com