Telecom
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.
Grey, a cross-border payments provider, has rolled out USD business accounts, bulk payments, and USDC stablecoin integration on one platform to streamline international transactions for emerging market firms.
Grey
The upgrade lets businesses open USD corporate accounts, collect from global clients, and execute payouts to 170+ countries—including bulk transfers—in minutes, slashing World Bank-noted 6-7% fees, multi-day delays, hidden charges, and forex opacity.
Idorenyin Obong, Co-founder and CEO of Grey said: “Global banking access lags for high-growth markets; we’re bridging that with faster, transparent money movement regardless of client location.”
COO Joseph Femi Aghedo added: “Unpredictable payments stall growth—Grey cuts friction for payroll, suppliers, and partners, now with USD and stablecoins for broader reach.”
Launched in Africa in 2020 with US, UK, Europe presence and recent Latin America/Southeast Asia expansion, Grey offers multi-currency accounts, cheap transfers, virtual USD cards, expense tools, and strong security.
The GSMA yesterday announced the global launch of a new Innovation Fund offering grants of £100,000 to £200,000 to support small and growing enterprises using mobile and digital technologies to accelerate the green transition in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
The GSMA Innovation Fund for Green Transition for Mobile (the Innovation Fund), a GSMA-funded initiative supported by its members, builds on the GSMA’s commitment to advance inclusive and sustainable connectivity, and the mobile industry’s ambition to achieve net zero emissions.
The Innovation Fund will support commercially viable innovations that expand access to clean energy and promote circularity in mobile devices – including renewable energy solutions, smart metering, refurbishment models and responsible e-waste management – to advance digital inclusion and industry climate action.
The initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, recognising the critical role of mobile technology in enabling inclusive, sustainable development.
Targeting enterprises operating across Africa, Central and South America, and South and Southeast Asia, the Innovation Fund will focus on solutions that strengthen digital inclusion, affordability and socio-economic empowerment, while delivering environmental impact.
Philippe Bellordre, Acting Head of Mobile for Development, GSMA, said: “Through this Innovation Fund, we are investing directly in enterprises that are using mobile and digital technology to advance digital inclusion and enable a clean energy transition – while also scaling practical, circular solutions that extend the life of mobile devices and make connectivity more affordable for underserved communities.”
Driving circularity and improving handset affordability
Another core focus for the Innovation Fund is extending the lifespan of mobile devices through circular economy approaches, including repair, refurbishment and reuse, reducing e-waste while increasing access to affordable handsets for underserved populations.
The Innovation Fund will support solutions such as take-back and trade-in schemes, leasing models, refurbished device marketplaces, traceability tools, and responsible e-waste collection and recycling. By keeping devices in circulation for longer, these initiatives lower environmental impact while reducing the cost of ownership and expanding connectivity for low-income communities.
Building evidence for industry climate action
Beyond supporting individual enterprises, the Innovation Fund is designed to generate practical insights and lessons that contribute to the mobile industry’s wider climate and ESG priorities. This includes evidence that supports enabling environments for clean energy and circular economy solutions, informs policy discussions, and helps scale sustainable business models across emerging markets.
Who the Innovation Fund is for:
The Innovation Fund is open to for-profit small and growing enterprises with up to 250 employees that are:
- Operating in LMICs across Africa, Central and South America, or South and Southeast Asia
- Using mobile or digital technology as a core part of their solution
- Demonstrating commercial revenue and active users
- Able to contribute at least 25% matching funding
What the Innovation Fund provides:
Selected enterprises will receive:
- Grants of £100,000 to £200,000 over 15-18 months
- Technical assistance
- Support to connect with investors and build partnerships with mobile network operators
- Monitoring, evaluation and learning support
- Visibility through GSMA platforms, publications and industry engagement
Telecom
Prof. Adeyanju is Strengthening Nigeria’s Digital Backbone for a Connected Future in Two Years of Purposeful Leadership
Two years ago, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), appointed a new Executive Management Team at Galaxy Backbone Limited (GBB) and this marked a defining moment in Nigeria’s digital evolution.
Today, as the organisation marks the second anniversary of the appointment of four distinguished Nigerians; Prof. Ibrahim A. Adeyanju, as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Honourable Olusegun Olulade, Executive Director Customer Centricity and Marketing, Muhammed Sani Ibrahim; Executive Director, Finance and Corporate Services and Olumbe Akinkugbe, Executive Director, Digital Exploration and Technical Services to Galaxy Backbone Limited, the story is not one of rhetoric, but of infrastructure strengthened, partnerships deepened, and national capability measurably advanced.
From the onset, the mandate was clear: to anchor Nigeria’s digital transformation on secure, sovereign infrastructure while improving service delivery across Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
The Executive team immediately aligned execution with strategy through the launch of the Integrated Digital Transformation Strategy (IDTS) 2023 to 2028. The focus evolved from simply providing connectivity to leading a digital ecosystem that integrates infrastructure, platforms, policy alignment, value creation, and people.
Within two years, Galaxy Backbone significantly expanded national digital access. Broadband connectivity was delivered to nine underserved Local Government Areas under Project 774, extending inclusion to communities previously beyond reliable access.
Fibre-to-Hostel projects were completed at the University of Lagos, University of Abuja, and University of Jos, strengthening academic research and digital learning environments. Connectivity to strategic national assets, including the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport and key Federal Secretariats, was enhanced to improve operational efficiency and service reliability.
In a major step toward long-term resilience, GBB executed strategic business partnership with one of Africa’s leading provider of inter-connected carrier scale digital Infrastructure Companies, West Indian Ocean Cable Company (WIOCC), reinforcing Nigeria’s national fibre backbone, improving redundancy, and enabling scalable broadband expansion across more states and underserved communities.
This strategic move significantly strengthened the country’s digital resilience architecture.
Beyond infrastructure expansion, the leadership deepened Nigeria’s sovereign digital capabilities. The 1Government Cloud platform was optimized and expanded to support more MDAs with operational efficiency, secure hosting and shared services.
GovMail, a locally developed email solution by GBB, for Federal Government Public and Civil Servants was birthed and today is enhancing trusted government communication for over 100,000 professionals currently on the platform. Cybersecurity posture was reinforced through 24/7 monitoring and strengthened controls, while colocation services and data centre operations were upgraded for greater resilience. Under this leadership, GBB’s Service desk now operates 24/7, 365 days a year.
The deployment of Government as a Platform (GaaP) framework, improvements to the Government Service Portal, ISO recertification milestones and the implementation of an Integrated Management System (IMS) further institutionalized governance, accountability, and operational excellence.
The journey has not been without challenges. Fiscal constraints, legacy systems, increasing cyber threats, and rising expectations for digital public services required decisive leadership.
Through disciplined financial management, strategic partnerships, stronger stakeholder engagement, and operational reforms, the Executive Management stabilised systems, improved service quality, and positioned Galaxy Backbone as a trusted enabler of public sector transformation.
Support from the Honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Dr. George Akume who chairs the GBB Board, and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson Jack and other top Government leaders across the arms of Government, have all been instrumental in aligning policy direction with execution momentum, ensuring that national priorities translate into tangible digital outcomes.
Over the past two years, Galaxy Backbone has earned over 20 reputable recognitions, including the NET5.5G Pioneer Award, the inaugural Artificial Intelligence Award, the Overall Winner award at the Nigeria @ 65 Independence Kitty, the BPSR Website Performance Award, and Best ICT Provider Company of the Year at the International Standard Excellence Awards and so on. GBB’s MD/CEO, Prof. Adeyanju has also been named as one of the top 100 leading Personalities in the Telecoms Industry in Nigeria.
These honours reflect not just institutional visibility, but measurable transformation in governance standards, infrastructure resilience, and service delivery impact.
Two years on, Galaxy Backbone stands stronger — not merely as an infrastructure provider, but as a strategic custodian of Nigeria’s sovereign digital backbone.
With clarity of vision, disciplined execution, and sustained collaboration across government, the organisation continues to deepen connectivity, strengthen cybersecurity, expand cloud sovereignty, and build a resilient digital foundation for national development.
The progress achieved affirms a simple truth: purposeful leadership, aligned with national vision and supported by strategic partnerships, can translate ambition into enduring capability. Galaxy Backbone remains committed to powering a secure, connected, and digitally enabled Nigeria for generations to come.
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