Leonard and Chioma Ekeh are, unarguably, the most technology-savvy couple in Nigeria. They eat, sleep, think and dream technology. They are not just technology entrepreneurs, they pioneered the development, usage and growth of indigenous computer technology in Nigeria. They are also in the vanguard of the empowerment of Nigerian youths, especially the women, through information and communication technology (ICT) education and skills acquisition initiatives.
The 69 year-old Leonard Stanley Nnamdi Ekeh, better known as Leo Stan, and his wife, Chioma, 61, are the owners of Zinox Group, Nigeria’s pioneer, ground breaking and foremost computer technology group. The first company in the Group, Task Systems Limited, was one of the few which pioneered Desktop Publishing and Computer Graphics in Nigeria. It computerized 95% of the print media, publishing houses and advertising agencies in Nigeria. Task Systems Limited has consistently won outstanding industry awards as Best Partner Award for Compaq, HP, Microsoft, American Power Solution, APC, etc. for 20 years. The Group pioneered IT solutions in West Africa through ITEC Solutions Limited which has delivered the largest IT solutions ever, from an indigenous firm, to the Nigerian corporate market.
The Group also pioneered IT distribution in West Africa through Technology Distributions Limited, (TD Africa), which has emerged the leading ICT distribution company in West Africa. TD Africa 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.
The biggest milestone, perhaps, came in 2001 when Leo Stan scored another first by setting up Zinox Technologies Limited to manufacture Zinox Computers, Nigeria’s first internationally certified branded computers. The Zinox Computer has some innovative features, which include – the Naira sign, and a power supply feature designed to contain the frequent power outages characteristic of electric power in Nigeria. He ensured that at launch Zinox Computers already had the WHQL certification, the first in sub-Saharan Africa, consolidated five 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.
As a child, Leo Stan who was born to a middleclass family in UbomiriMbaitoli, Imo State, dreamed of owning the biggest transport company in Nigeria. But his admission to Punjab University, India, where he bagged a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, changed all that. Studying in India, he recalls, was “a great turning point in my life because I found the economy of India a realistic economy.” It was during his student days in India that Ekeh met Chioma, a mathematics student also at Punjab University, who was to become his wife. From India, both of them relocated to the United Kingdom for further studies at different institutions.
Ekeh returned to Nigeria to start business after earning a Masters degree in Risk Management from Nottingham University, UK. Chioma, on her part, joined the exalted league of Chartered Accountants in UK, having bagged an MBA at the reputable Heriot Watts University. In 1987, she joined Sterling Deveraux as an Investment Analyst, engaging in research and analyzing assets, such as stocks, bonds, currencies and commodities. Her acumen and exceptional skills were growing in demand and before long, she left Sterling Deveraux for the London Borough of Lewisham as an accountant in 1988. Between then and 1991, Chioma, by dint of hard work, rose swiftly through the ranks of Senior Auditor, and then to Financial Auditor. In spite of the bright prospects of her rising to the topmost position at the London Borough of Lewisham or taking up other elevated roles at other organizations Chioma chose to return to Nigeria. Apparently, she was compelled by the combined love of motherland and the call of her husband – Leo Stan Ekeh – to come and build a technology legacy for Nigeria and Africa.
Back in Nigeria, Chioma Ekeh joined her husband’s company, Task Systems Ltd., where she was assigned the position of Financial Controller. She spent six achievement-filled years before taking charge as the Chief Executive Officer of Technology Distributions Limited (TD Africa), another company founded by her husband, where she has been driving the vision of technology distribution in Nigeria and West Africa. Founded in 1999, TD Africa is Africa’s leading distributor of technology and lifestyle products, boasting an unmatched and growing network of partnership with global brands like HP, Microsoft, Apple, Starlink, IBM, Dell Technologies, Ring (by Amazon), Cisco, Lenovo, APC by Schneider Electric, Samsung, Bosch, Phillips, Logitech, Vivo, among several others. Under Chioma’s leadership, the company has achieved numerous milestones, earned a long list of local and international awards/accolades and ensured Nigeria and, indeed, Africa are reckoned with in the technology sphere globally.
After over 30 years of building a successful technology empire with her husband, Chioma has been described as the integral analytics —the brilliant backbone behind the phenomenal success of Zinox Group.
A quiet, unassuming tech icon, Chioma Ekeh has acquired a well-deserved status as unarguably one of Nigeria’s top three leading Women-in-Tech, a female technology business leader with extensive years of proven capacity in building high-performing teams and transforming businesses beyond stakeholders’ expectations.
In partnership with her husband, Chioma Ekeh has played immense roles in growing and nurturing partner businesses, launching several thriving new businesses and successfully closing some of the biggest acquisitions in the technology space in Nigeria.
As the wife of Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, the famous billionaire tech entrepreneur, Chioma, has proven to all that money doesn’t always change you. Like her billionaire husband, she believes that wealth without impact is often seen as a form of greed or a lack of contribution to society. In view of this, Chioma has developed a unique breathtaking philanthropic interest that has impacted several lives across the length and breadth of Africa. In November 2024, Chioma floated TecHERdemy, an initiative aimed at equipping 400 young Nigerian women with essential digital skills to succeed in today’s technology-driven world. For six months, participants were introduced to the core courses which include Cybersecurity, Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Software Development. But what happened over those six months went beyond just skills; it sparked a movement.
At their graduation ceremony at the Yudala Heights, Victoria Island, Lagos, the visibly excited Chioma urged the young women to let their values guide them as they navigate their careers. Fifteen exceptional participants were also honoured for their outstanding performance and leadership qualities during the programme.
The Tech Experience Centre – Africa’s first technology experience centre – located at Yudala Heights, a sprawling edifice in the heart of Victoria Island – is another project that has Chioma Ekeh’s indelible signature on it. The launch of the Tech Experience Centre in October 2020 received high praise from the Nigerian government and representatives of global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
Under her guidance, Celebrating You, an annual showpiece celebratory event hosted by TD Africa has become unarguably the biggest year-end event in the Nigerian technology industry calendar for over a decade. Chioma has also spearheaded several Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects, including The Herwakening – an empowerment programme for female entrepreneurs – and Girls in ICT – a project targeted at encouraging young girls to take up STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines and considering careers in technology.
Leo Stan and Chioma Ekeh have been honoured as one of the Top10 Magazine’s 10 Most Impactful Power Couples in Nigeria in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Nigeria’s economic development as they serve as inspiration to upcoming couples.
