Leonard Stanley Nnamdi Ekeh is an astute Nigerian businessman, who is the founder and chairman of Zinox Group and Konga.com. Born in Imo state, from a middle-class family with three brothers and two sisters. His mother was a dietitian, and his father was a nurse, no wonder he has always dreamt big, as he wanted to own the biggest transport company in Nigeria during his early years.
Early Education
Leo Ekeh went to Holy Ghost College, Owerri and later went to Punjab University in India, where he bagged a Bsc in Economics. His education in India was “a great turning point in my life because I found the economy of India as a realistic economy”. Ekeh said, he also bagged an MSc in Risk Management from the University of Nottingham.
Business life
He started Zinox Technologies Limited in 2001 to manufacture computers with WHQL certification, it was the first of such achievements in sub-Saharan Africa, and 5 years later, Zinox Computers attained the NIS ISO 2000: 9001 QMS Certification. Zinox Computers also started production of its computer tablet (Zipad) in October 2013, and in February 2018, Ekeh’s company Zinox acquired Konga.com from its owners buying 99% of the total company shares.
Leo Stan Ekeh is also involved in other with companies Task Systems, Technology Distributions Limited, ICT Brokers, TD Plus, ICT Connect and Buyright AFRICA Dotcom. Task Systems, was one of the pioneers of Desktop Publishing and Computer Graphics in Nigeria, leading to over 95% of the Print Media, Publishing Houses and Advertising Agencies in Nigeria. Task Systems Limited, is an award-winning company and is the Best Partner Award for Compaq, HP, Microsoft, American Power Solution, APC, etc.
He has also pioneered IT Solutions in West Africa through his company ITEC Solutions Limited for over 20 years, through which he has delivered the largest IT Solutions ever, from an indigenous firm, to the Nigerian Corporate Market. Mr. Ekeh also pioneered IT Distribution in West Africa through Technology Distributions Limited, TD, which has emerged the Number 1 ICT distribution company in West Africa. TD has consistently won for ten years the highest industry Awards and recognition for market penetration, revenue, and preferred partner status to become the most decorated ICT Distributor in West Africa.
Leo Stan Ekeh’s Zinox Computers has some innovative features, which include – the Naira sign, and a Power Supply designed to contain the erratic nature of electric power in Nigeria. Leo’s visionary contributions to Africa’s ICT space, his incisive investments and vision to digitalise Nigeria remains unequal till date.
He solidified his position as West Africa’s digital icon and 21st Century Tech King, when he turned Konga into an amazing e-commerce brand and thus expanded his market share as one of the largest online retail platforms in the country.
He is also currently plotting a Pan- African experience in renewable energy, and we can tell its going to be a huge feat going by his innovation, experience and achievements. Leo plans to invest over $250 million in renewable energy projects across Africa, with the aim to expand access to competitive and climate-friendly electricity supplies for homes and businesses in Nigeria.
Zinox has equally secured funds and established a strategic partnership with leading renewable energy companies in China, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates to achieve its goals. And over 500 nigerian engineers and technicians have been trained from all the states in Nigeria, these professionals will conduct standard power audits, installations, and after-sales support nationwide, ensuring customers receive full value for their investments.
Launch of Konga TV Another feat achieved by Leo Stan Ekeh is the Konga TV, which launched after some three weeks of testing to rival entrenched players. Konga TV offered free adverts to sellers on its platform, which was a strategic move, because it was launched at the time that DSTV and GOTV had increased their subscription rates.
Konga TV was launched during Konga’s e-commerce biggest year sale, and the TV is designed to offer deals and competitively priced products from sources, including manufacturers, distributors, merchants, and resellers, and is dedicated to providing shoppers with the best deals. Konga TV is known as Africa’s first dedicated TV for commerce and allows genuine sellers from all sectors to reach and serve a vast audience, including undeserved and un-reached markets, locally and internationally.
Konga TV’s transactions are securely facilitated by Konga Digital Logistics, with payments genuinely guaranteed by its online shopping platform konga.com. The television station is set to unveil its unique Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) channel to a global audience after extensive internal testing.
Konga TV made some mouth-watering offers to its potential merchants, which is made up of merchants across FMCG, Auto Dealers, Fashion, Real Estate, Computing, Home and Kitchen, Wine and Spirits, and Mobile Phones, etc, Konga TV gave them free advertising for a limited period. While Konga TV subscribers will enjoy exclusive access to curated deals across various product categories during Konga Yakata. Customers in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt will benefit from same-day delivery, while those in other regions can expect their orders to arrive within 96 hours.”
Konga TV, is a first-of-its-kind channel which is solely focused on commerce, where commerce takes the centre stage. The TV caters for sellers, buyers and general news that adds value to both merchants and shoppers. It also provides storage solutions through distributed warehousing facilities nationwide and ensures prompt delivery through Konga Digital Logistics.
Konga TV also caters for Nigerian viewers and subscribers who live in other countries, especially in the west, as they can take advantage of these exclusive deals by placing orders for their loved ones, and get swift delivery to the recipients.
The launch of Konga TV marks a significant milestone in African commerce history, as both big and small merchants, medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and other businesses with substantial inventories, and even those searching for a market to show their products and services, have a tailor-made online TV platform to reach a diverse and expansive audience of buyers.
Industry experts have all lauded this new innovation in E-Commerce, due to its niche positioning and its potential to create value for both business owners and consumers.
Chris Uwaje, chairman of Mobile Software Nigeria, said, “It’s an idea that has been long overdue: an online TV platform exclusively for buyers and sellers. Nigeria and indeed Africa have been missing a multimedia platform of this nature, one that bridges the gap between these two crucial segments”.
