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2022 International Women’s Day: Ekeh, Zinox Group Remain Global Shining Examples
When over 16 years ago, a journalist had ambushed him on the sidelines of an event, Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman, Zinox Group, had delivered what seemed back then like a prophetic announcement, but which today, is gradually proving to be true.
Ekeh had stated that women would lead by the turn of the 21st Century, with the Zinox boss disclosing that the impact of women would be felt even keener in leadership roles from the year 2026.
Coming in an era when many women were facing a glaring and deeply ingrained inequality in the workplace and society, as well as reduced access to opportunities in the political, corporate, religious and social spaces, Ekeh’s projections must have been dismissed or cast aside by many as widely off the mark.
The hard facts or data on ground were also not consistent with the submission of the serial digital entrepreneur and renowned gender advocacy enthusiast. Globally, women have for long held the short end of the stick or played second fiddle to their male counterparts on the business or political fronts and especially in the male-dominated tech space in which Ekeh operates.
Research shows that out of about 239 billion-dollar Venture Capital-backed companies around the world, less than 25 have a female founder. In other words, most billion-dollar companies are founded by men.
Also, a study by McKinsey & Company establishes that women are also grossly underrepresented in CEO positions, too, with only 4% of US Fortune 500 companies having a female CEO. Only a few or rare exceptions buck this trend. For women of color, the numbers are even more disappointing, as only 4% hold a C-suite role among US companies.
In addition, a 2018 Woman in the Workplace study reveals that for every 100 men who are promoted to manager level, only 79 women are promoted and, if we break down the data even more, just 60 black women are promoted.
Moreso, a Morgan Stanley analysis shows that between 2005 and 2014, European companies had 14% women in their boards while data from the US Census Bureau indicates that a woman makes 80.5 cents for every dollar a man earns.
In addition, the job aggregating service, Adzuna, found that only 11% of those who earn more than $100,000 per annum are female employees. The case remained sadly in the disfavour of women on the political front too, with leadership positions seemingly the exclusive preserve of the male-folk.
Yet, many years later, Ekeh returned to the inaugural edition of the Africa Fintech Disrupt Conference sponsored by Access Bank in 2018 with the same message.
At the end of a charged, impassioned speech which ended with a standing ovation from the audience at the crowded hall in the Landmark Event Centre, Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos, Ekeh had specifically addressed the womenfolk. He had urged them to prepare to take charge, adding that the world should adjust to this coming reality which he reiterated would begin to take shape from 2026.
The Zinox boss has consistently predicted that women would take over and that a time would come when corporate organizations that had no females as CEOs or in their Executive Management cadre would be considered old-fashioned.
Specifically, he had based his faith in women as better leaders or managers in the fact that they are more financially prudent, humble, less prone to fraud, spiritually sound, better counsellors and possibly even smarter than their male counterparts of the same age – factors which he has identified as traits which make them more naturally suited for leadership.
He has also not failed in preaching and practicing the same message internally across the Zinox Group and Konga, recently transformed into a flourishing e-commerce ecosystem after its 2018 acquisition.
As the world marks the 2022 anniversary of International Women’s Day with the theme #BreakTheBias, the outpouring of support for women and consciousness of the growing roles of women in contemporary society seem to be felt even more keenly than ever, prompting another look at the insistence of Ekeh that the future belongs to the gender.
Granted, women still face severe cases of inequality and bias the world over, ranging from unequal pay, barriers to promotion, bias against mothers/nursing mothers, higher burnout/stress in women and more importantly, incidences of sexual harassment. Recently, the Nigerian National Assembly also refused assent to a couple of bills targeted at increasing women participation in the political space.
But despite it all, there is clear evidence that things are changing.
If the example of a Nigerian woman, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who today, occupies leadership of a global organization – the World Trade Organisation (WTO) is not enough, it would be fitting to also acknowledge that on the political front, countries such as Germany, Greece, Denmark, Estonia, Moldova, Lithuania, Slovakia and even Liberia, here in Africa, have recently had or currently have female presidents or heads of government.
Also, Big Tech has recently enjoyed a taste of woman power with the likes of Susan Wojcicki (CEO, YouTube), Sheryl Sandberg (COO, Facebook), Virginia ‘Ginni’ Rometty (who stepped aside on April 1, 2020 after becoming the first woman to serve as Chairman, President and CEO of IBM) and Meg Whittman (now board member of Procter & Gamble and General Motors but who was previously president and CEO of Hewlett Packard Enterprise(HPE)), among many other glowing examples.
Women are now holding down more executive management or C-Level positions across the globe than ever before. More and more women are also aspiring for better education than their male counterparts.
Indeed, a recent Pew Research Center survey agrees that today’s young women are starting their careers better educated than their male counterparts, noting that as most women now get higher education than their mothers and grandmothers before them, they can bring those skills to the workplace and impact business outcomes.
Feedback from another Pew Research Centre survey shows that Americans don’t find significant differences between women and men in their ability to run a company, with numbers varying based on sector.
The survey reveals that in certain industries, women seem to have an advantage than men. Notably, 31% of those sampled think a woman would do a better job running a retail chain, while only 6% can say the same for a man.
In healthcare, 19% think a woman would be a better choice as a hospital’s manager, while less than half (8%) would say the same for a man.
Interestingly, the same wave of women taking over is sweeping through the Nigerian business domain where, at the last count, almost one-third of Nigerian banks are now led by female CEOs.
Equally of note is the outcome of several studies which further justify the growing appreciation of the leadership qualities of women. These research findings admit that when women secure senior executive positions, companies become more profitable.
Instances include a 2018 study conducted by the Boston Consulting Group in partnership with MassChallenge, a US-based global network of accelerators, as well as a 2016 study by Marcus Noland and Tyler Moran published in the Harvard Business Review.
These statistics-backed research are causing a mindset shift in business circles, with investors and business owners now doing more in terms of diversifying the profile of their senior management to accommodate more women.
However, this is a template that Ekeh, for long a lone voice in the wilderness of gender equality, himself has long used as a practical, success-backed example.
Speaking on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 on the anniversary of International Women’s Day at The Herwakening, a women empowerment conference hosted by TD Africa – Ekeh, who had expressed a sense of satisfaction at the huge impetus in the rise of women globally, had challenged participants to a quiz.
He had asked them to name the only organisation in the world which had five female Managing Directors within its fold.
The answer to this puzzle, for many of these female participants, was undoubtedly an easy one as this seemed an impossibility.
But that ‘impossibility’ is a reality in the Zinox Group where Ekeh remains arguably the only entrepreneur who has appointed the most females in merited leadership positions anywhere in the world.
At the last count, the Zinox Group still has four female Managing Directors and a CEO. They are led by Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, wife of Mr. Ekeh and CEO of TD Africa, a cerebral mathematician and Chartered Accountant who has, over the years, steered the company to the pinnacle of the tech distribution space in Sub-Saharan Africa and consistently maintained its unflagging reputation as the industry leader.
She is ably assisted by three other female business leaders, all MDs worth their weight in gold: Chioma Chimere, Coordinating Managing Director (CMD); Shade Oyebode, Managing Director, Operations and Gozy Ijogun, Managing Director, Sales.
At Zinox, another female, Kelechi Eze-Okonta, is Managing Director, a position she has occupied since 2018.
As the world rallies round the theme of breaking the bias – as aptly couched for the 2022 anniversary of International Women’s Day, Ekeh’s long-held faith, confidence and absolute non-bias for gender equality remains a fitting example for all the world over and a clear foresight of an imminent future the world must be ready to accommodate.
ntel, has officially moved away from its traditional voice and data business, unveiling a major transformation that will see it focus on digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and technology-driven services.
As part of the consolidation process, ntel unveiled The Next Frontier, a transformation agenda planned to see the firm transform into an integrated digital infrastructure, connectivity and real estate enterprise.
Its new focus is a now BET Agenda – anchored on three growth pillars, Beam, Eden, and Titan and the drivers said that the strategy reflected ntel’s commitment to creating new opportunities through technology innovation, infrastructure development, and strategic asset optimisation.
The launch comes as ntel continues its journey towards regaining spectrum assets, while actively leveraging strategic partnerships to redefine innovation in the telecommunications industry and unlock new pathways for growth.
Built on the company’s BET Agenda – anchored on three growth pillars, Beam, Eden, and Titan – the strategy reflected ntel’s commitment to creating new opportunities through technology innovation, infrastructure development, and strategic asset optimisation.
The launch comes as ntel continues its journey towards regaining spectrum assets, while actively leveraging strategic partnerships to redefine innovation in the telecommunications industry and unlock new pathways for growth.
The company also showcased a portfolio of initiatives designed to strengthen its position as a future-focused infrastructure platform.
Under Beam, ntel announced the launch of WakaGo, a global e-SIM solution that delivers seamless connectivity for international travellers, alongside AirFibre, a high-speed fixed wireless broadband service designed to provide reliable internet access for businesses.
Under Titan, the company highlighted its growing infrastructure business focused on tower development, fibre connectivity, duct infrastructure, colocation services, and infrastructure sharing solutions that enable operators, enterprises, and technology providers to expand efficiently and sustainably.
A major highlight of the launch was Eden, ntel’s real estate development platform, which is transforming NatCom’s extensive property portfolio into high-value commercial and residential developments.
To further push its transformation, the company unveiled three flagship projects. They are Eden Place, a premium multi-storey commercial development in Lagos’ prime business district.
There is also Nova Place, a modern commercial development strategically located within Port Harcourt’s growing technology and business hub.
Terenna Court, a premium multi-storey residential apartment development in Abuja.
Together, these projects demonstrate ntel’s ambition to unlock the full potential of its real estate assets through strategic partnerships, innovative design, and long-term value creation.
Speaking at the unveiling of The Next Frontier, Soji Maurice-Diya, managing director/chief executive officer, NatCom Development and Investment Limited (trading as ntel), described the initiative as far more than a business transformation strategy.
According to him, it represents the company’s commitment to building an integrated ecosystem that connects people, empowers businesses, drives digital inclusion, and creates sustainable economic value for Nigeria.
Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Nigeria, has reaffirmed its commitment to developing Nigeria’s future workforce with a high-impact virtual masterclass designed to equip young people with the practical skills required to thrive in an increasingly technology-driven economy.
The Initiative, held to commemorate World Youth Skills Day 2026, themed “Skills for a Shared Future – The NextGen Advantage,” presented a platform on which experienced Airtel professionals provided mentorship and coaching to undergraduates, interns, and recent graduates for the current realities of formal work environments.
Organised on the auspices of the Airtel Employee Volunteer Programme (EVP), by which staff donate their time and expertise towards social programmes, the 90-minute virtual masterclass, which was attended by over 400 undergraduates and young professionals, extended the reach of the Foundation’s education and youth development programmes.
Speaking on the initiative, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, said investing in young people remains one of the most impactful ways to build Nigeria’s future economy.
He said, “The future of work is changing faster than ever before, and success will increasingly belong to those who are equipped with the right skills, the right mindset, and the confidence to adapt. As an organisation, we believe that empowering young people with practical digital and professional capabilities is an investment in Nigeria’s future competitiveness.
Through our Employee Volunteer Programme, our people are sharing not just knowledge, but real industry experience to help shape careers, unlock opportunities, and prepare the next generation to lead in a digital world.”
Unlike traditional career seminars, the masterclass adopted an interactive learning model that offered participants the option to select specialised breakout sessions aligned with personal interests and career aspirations.
In his keynote remarks titled The Next Gen Advantage, Director, Corporate Communications and CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Femi Adeniran, noted that the future will be shaped by the skills to transform great ideas into impactful solutions.
He summed up the pathway to a future-ready career into five actions, namely learning continuously, solving problems, building a digital reputation, embracing Artificial Intelligence, and developing human skills.
“Technical knowledge remains important, but employers today are equally looking for adaptability, collaboration, communication, digital confidence, and the ability to learn continuously,” he said.
In the first general session titled Your Network is Your Net Worth, Adebimpe Ayo-Elias, Director, Human Resources and Administration, Airtel Nigeria, charged attendees to build character. The second general session themed Your Money, Your Future, delivered tips on budgeting and financial discipline was facilitated by Olakunbi Osigbesan, Head, Treasure, Smartcash PSB.
Following the general sessions were five breakout rooms, in which attendees were offered curated guides designed to develop contemporary workplace competencies.
The first session, Digital Transformation and Growth, led by Oyebowale Akideinde, General Manager, Digital and Innovation, Airtel Nigeria, presented a mechanism to leverage digital platforms for visibility and opportunity creation.
The CV Clinic and Interview Masterclass, which was led by Chidera Okoye, HR Outsourcing Lead, Airtel Nigeria, discussed practical recruitment strategies, including applicant tracking system (ATS)-friendly CVs, and the STAR interview framework.
A third session on Communication and Personal Branding, delivered by Sam Adeoye, Head, Public Relations, Airtel Nigeria, focused on value presentation, executive communication, and earned visibility, built on “V.I.R.A.L.”, a mnemonic device created for the attendees by the facilitator.
The programme also featured a dedicated session titled AI as Your Superpower, presented by Ezenwa Agbanusi, IT Governance Executive at Airtel Nigeria, in which participants discussed prompt engineering and AI-powered tools for enhanced learning, creativity, and workplace performance.
Corporate Social Responsibility Lead at Airtel Nigeria, Victoria Ndu, led the fifth breakout room on Emotional Intelligence, with a guide on building a high emotional intelligence quotient (EQ) for improved workplace and business performance.
By connecting future professionals directly with industry experts, the company continues to support the development of a workforce equipped to participate meaningfully in Nigeria’s rapidly evolving digital economy and contribute to shared prosperity.
U.S. ride-hailing giant Uber has agreed to acquire German food delivery company Delivery Hero in a deal valued at €12.7 billion ($14.6 billion), marking one of the largest transactions in the global food delivery industry.
Uber
The companies announced the agreement on Thursday, with Uber offering €41.50 per share for Delivery Hero, a Berlin-based company that has grown into one of the world’s largest online food delivery platforms.
Despite the announcement, Delivery Hero’s shares declined by 0.5 per cent in Frankfurt trading to €37.90.
Founded in 2011, Delivery Hero operates in more than 60 markets across Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.
The company has expanded beyond traditional restaurant delivery services into quick commerce, providing rapid delivery of groceries and other consumer goods.
Under the agreement, Uber will acquire Delivery Hero’s operations in 50 markets globally.
As part of the transaction, U.S.-based investment firm SSW Partners will acquire Delivery Hero’s businesses in 14 additional markets where the German company and Uber currently compete. The transaction is valued at approximately €1.4 billion.
Delivery Hero Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, Niklas Östberg, said the partnership would strengthen the company’s long-term growth by combining its local market expertise with Uber’s global technology and delivery platform.
“Uber’s global mobility and delivery platform and our shared commitment to innovation make this the right partnership to build on Delivery Hero’s strengths in local food delivery and quick commerce,” Östberg said.
Uber Chief Executive Officer, Dara Khosrowshahi, said the acquisition would expand the company’s delivery operations while creating new opportunities for merchants, consumers and delivery workers.
“A merger would extend affordable, reliable delivery to many millions more people in some of the world’s most dynamic economies, while creating more opportunities for merchants and couriers,” he said.
Delivery Hero’s management has unanimously recommended that shareholders approve the offer.
The companies said the transaction remains subject to shareholder approval and regulatory approvals, with completion expected in the second half of 2027.
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