Leo Stan Ekeh

Leonard "Leo" Stanley Nnamdi Ekeh (born February 22, 1956) is a Nigerian 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 Ubomiri, 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 St. Mary's Catholic College, Mbomiri for his secondary education. When young, he wanted to own the biggest transport company in Nigeria.cite news |first= Chidi |last=Nnadi |title= You can’t be 100% godly as a businessman in Nigeria – Leo Stan Ekeh, chairman, Zinox Computers |url= http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/ceomagazine/2004/aug/16/ceomagazine-aug16-001.htm |work= The Sun News On-line |publisher=The Sun Publishing |date=2004-08-16 |accessdate=2008-01-14 ]

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 University of Iceland, 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, 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 Nigeria
*Information Technology Personality of the Year 2002 Award (IT and Telecom Digest)
*Doctors of Business Administration (Honoris Causa) Imo State University
*Doctor of Technology (Honoris Causa) Federal University of Technology, OwerriIn 2006 the Nigerian president, Olusegun Obasanjo honored Ekeh as an ICON OF HOPE for the youths in Nigeria.

References