Leo Stan Ekeh
Encyclopedia
Leonard "Leo" Stanley Nnamdi Ekeh (born February 22, 1956) is an Igbo
Nigeria
n businessman and chairperson of Zinox Technologies. In addition to Zinox, he has been involved with companies Task Systems, Guaranty Trust Insurance, and IT Solutions and Technology Distributions Limited.
, Imo State
to a middle class family with two brothers and two sisters. His mother was a nurse, his father was a teacher. 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's 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. After his program, Ekeh decided to earn a master’s degree in business.
Zinox Technologies was established on 9 October 2001. It is a company jointly owned by Stan Tech of Nigeria, Mustek of South Africa
, and ALHENA of France, with Ekeh as the chairperson.
In 2006 the Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo honored Ekeh as an ICON OF HOPE for the youths in Nigeria.
Igbo people
Igbo people, also referred to as the Ibo, Ebo, Eboans or Heebo are an ethnic group living chiefly in southeastern Nigeria. They speak Igbo, which includes various Igboid languages and dialects; today, a majority of them speak English alongside Igbo as a result of British colonialism...
Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n businessman and chairperson of Zinox Technologies. In addition to Zinox, he has been involved with companies Task Systems, Guaranty Trust Insurance, and IT Solutions and Technology Distributions Limited.
Early life and education
Ekeh was born in UbomiriUbomiri
Ubomiri is a town located near Owerri, capital city of Imo State, in southeastern Nigeria. Ubomiri is made of nine villages: Egbeada, Amauburu, Umuabili, Obokpo, Umuocha, Ohuba ohum Ahama and Umuojinaka....
, Imo State
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
to a middle class family with two brothers and two sisters. His mother was a nurse, his father was a teacher. He attended Holy Ghost College,Owerri for his secondary education. When young, he wanted to own the biggest transport company in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
.
He later went to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
for his university education, where he received a bachelor's of science degree in economics from Punjab University
Punjab University
Punjab University may refer to:In India:*Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana*Punjab Technical University*Punjabi University, Patiala*Panjab University, ChandigarhIn Pakistan:*University of the Punjab, Lahore...
. 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. After his program, Ekeh decided to earn a master’s degree in business.
Business career
Ekeh has pioneered various businesses in Nigeria. They include Task Systems, which specializes in desktop publishing and computer graphics; Technology Distribution Limited (TD), an IT distributor; and IT Solutions and Guaranty Trust Insurance.Zinox Technologies was established on 9 October 2001. It is a company jointly owned by Stan Tech of Nigeria, Mustek of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, and ALHENA of France, with Ekeh as the chairperson.
Awards and honors
Awards and honors Ekeh has received include:- Corporate Citizen of the Year Award 2002/2003
- Newspaper Proprietors Association of NigeriaNigeriaNigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
- Information Technology Personality of the Year 2002 Award (IT and Telecom Digest)
- Doctors of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) Imo State UniversityImo State UniversityThe Imo State University in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria was established in 1981 through law No. 4 passed by the Imo State House of Assembly.The university admitted the first intake of 392 pioneer students on October 23, 1981....
- Protection of gay rights award
- Doctor of Technology (Honoris Causa) Federal University of Technology, Owerri
In 2006 the Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo honored Ekeh as an ICON OF HOPE for the youths in Nigeria.