Renowned digital innovation expert, Prof. Chris Uwaje, has celebrated Leo Stan Ekeh as a visionary “digital anticipator” and pioneer on the occasion of his 70th birthday.

Leo Stan Ekeh

In a heartfelt tribute, Uwaje hailed Ekeh as the “Saint Leo of all Stars from the Ekeh Universe,” saluting his masterclass contributions to human innovation, development, and global youth empowerment.

Visionary Impact on Africa, World

Uwaje praised Ekeh’s foresight, emotional intelligence, and resilience in transforming digital entrepreneurship, creating millions of jobs, billions in economic value, and expanded education access worldwide.

The encomium spotlighted Ekeh’s trailblazing solutions driving sustainable development, employment, and economic growth across Africa and beyond.

“Your legacy continues to shape a brighter future,” Uwaje noted, adding that Ekeh’s “extraordinary best is yet to come” as the “Field-Marshall of ANTICIPATORS.”

Cheers to More Foresighted Legacy

Uwaje declared: “From the gaze into the digital cloud: ‘the world ain’t seen nothing yet’!” while toasting Ekeh as the “true digital Conqueror of Africa and the world.”

The tribute underscores Ekeh’s enduring influence in digital disruption, innovation, and youth-focused initiatives that continue to inspire global progress.

Board and management of Communication Week Media Limited, publishers of Nigeria CommunicationsWeek, at the weekend announced that this year’s Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership lecture will focus on Impact of AI and IoT on business operational efficiency.

Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership lecture, widely regarded as the most prestigious annual event available in the ICT industry in Nigeria is in its 17th year.

The lecture holds on May 30, 2026 at Oriental Hotel Lekki, Lagos, according Ken Nwogbo, editor-in-chief of
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek the organizers of the event.

He said that this year’s event “is digital transformation edition” to recognise and celebrate organizations and individuals in the ICT industry that have impacted in digital transformation of the economy.

“Most of these organizations and individuals have consistently being voted by our readers as leaders in their areas of operations and we have decided to reward them in this special edition, tag: ‘Digital Transformation Edition 2026’ he said,”.

He added that, Digital transformation, driven by AI and IoT, will fundamentally boosts business operational efficiency by automating complex tasks, enabling real-time data analysis, and reducing costs.

“IoT technology optimizes resources, predict maintenance needs, and enhance decision- making, allowing companies to streamline workflows and improve productivity across sectors like manufacturing and logistics.

“It is an emerging technology that has impacted lifestyles and has changed the way we think and act, and the way we interact with each other.

It has also changed the way we work as it enables very large-scale monitoring, control, and automation, and has impacted the digital transformation of organizations in different industries”, he said.

According to him, “the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence exists as a bringing force in organizational communication. AI tools perform repetitive jobs, deliver simultaneous translations, and register team communication patterns, which lead to better understanding of group interactions. AI chatbots help manage customer support inquiries thus enabling staff members to dedicate their efforts toward complex work activities”.

The Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Distinguished (ABoICT Lecture 2026) is designed to explore efforts to put Nigeria on the global Information and Communications Technologies map.

The lecture series however is reserved for distinguished achievers in the ICT sector.

Past lecturers included Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, then executive vice chairman, Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC); Uche Orji, managing director/chief executive officer, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA); Biodu Omoniyi, Managing Director/CEO, VDT Communications; Ayotunde Coker, former Managing Director, Rack Centre Limited; Prof. Adewale Obadare, chief visionary officer, Digital Encode; Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, founder,
Hyperspace & NeuraL AI and John Obaro, CEO and founder of Systemspecs; Prof. Isa Pantanmi, former minister of Communications and Digital Economy; among others.

One a quiet Wednesday, February 22, 1956,  in Ubomiri, Mbaitoli, Imo State, the family of Chief and Lolo Ebenezer Ekeh leaped for joy at the birth of Leonard Stanley Nnamdi Ekeh- their second son.

Leonard Stanley Nnamdi Ekeh

His birth was both cosmic, and disruptive as his journey down this 70 years on earth has proven.

Leonard Stanley Nnamdi Ekeh, popularly know as Leo Stan Ekeh or LSE is human by birth but profound, rare and has higher consciousness.

Imbued with deep intuition, intense creativity, and compassionate nature, Leo Stan possesses critical thinking ability.

He has relentless drive to succeed across multiple facets of life. This is a self-made construct driven by his deep spiritual and  purposeful living, rather than just mere survival. 

Despite the recurring and abrupt reversal  of government policies, which leave companies including his hemorrhaging, Leo Stan has remained committed and actively participate in the development and nation-building of Nigeria.

Am one of the lucky people to have known him up close and personal for nearly 30 years.

He has endured lots of back biting and campaigns of calumny from competitors and even betrayals from least expected people.

But his tenacity makes him stand firm on his beliefs regardless of  feelings, or circumstances.

He has stumbled in businesses, failed in some ventures; but he always get right up.  At one point, he nearly lost his head selling international commodities.

LSE takes every loss with equanimity as a dogged fighter.

A serial entrepreneur and with eyes for great minds, Leo Stan does not just walk through life; he leaves a trail of light, lifting everyone around him with kindness and wisdom. And there are testimonials.

For me, he is a pillar of strength and a beacon of hope. My  benefactor.

He is also a benefactor to many. He has a way of making associates feel vital, loved, and valued.

Today is his Platinum Birthday but his roads have not always been paved with gold.

His early life was as ordinary as it can be, LSE attended Holy Ghost College, Owerri for his secondary education.

During his early years, he wanted to own the biggest transport company in Nigeria.

He later went to India for his university education, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Punjab University.

Leo Stan believes that studying in India was a great turning point in his life because he found the economy of India a realistic economy”.

He later also earned an MSc in Risk Management from the University of Nottingham.

At 70, he attained his height by trust in God, determination and CAN DO attitude.

Today, his  business opinions and advisory are  welcome around the world.

Leo Stan once told me “I saw myself from the beginning even when my parents were alive as an orphan. It drives me.”

He has three brothers and two sisters, His mother was a dietitian, and his father was a nurse

“I come from a lineage of people who served God dedicatedly. I am a miracle child and I remember my mother had always predicted that I would be great. I have siblings but I live my life as if I am the only child of my parents” he said

He believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world.

His solid prints in the business world is well documented. He has his hands in his hands in several businesses including ICT, e-commerce, broadcasting, oil and gas, media publishing and real estate.

Leo Stan is a man of many firsts: he pioneered a new world of digital economy at a time the country was deeply analogue both in the workplace and in schools.

The Nigerian media industry, from advertising to newspapers, owes him much gratitude for changing their operational processes and methodologies from mundane, medieval analogue to the robust and elegant digital platform.

Within 30 years, he has transformed a start-up that sprouted from a make-shift apartment that also doubled as his home into a digital conglomerate with incursions into oil and gas, entertainment and property.

Leo Stan started Zinox Technologies Limited in 2001 to manufacture computers.

He ensured that at launch Zinox Computers already had the WHQL certification, the first in sub-Saharan Africa, consolidated 5 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

Task Systems, Technology Distributions Limited, Konga (Africa’s foremost truly composite e-commerce outpost combining offline-online mix in service delivery), Konga Radio, and TD Mobile, to name a few, complete the ensemble of businesses in his thriving conglomerate.

In all his companies, there is a growth pathway for every employee.

He deliberately creates a system that rewards every hardworking and dedicated employee.

From drivers sponsored to universities and returning to the conglomerate as degree holders to persons who joined the organisation as janitors working their way up the corporate ladder, he has brought his humanity to bear on people around him.

Making some lowly staff home-owners and sponsoring indigent students to universities at home and abroad comes to him as a routine.

Just a few days ago, ahead of his 70th birthday, he offered University scholarships to additional 1,000 Nigerian indigent wizkids to study Computer Science in Federal Universities. He is committing about N10 billion to the scholarship scheme.

This is so the country’s private and public sectors have a new generation of tech wizkids to support the economy’s growth.

Recall that his group has trained and retrained over 3000 Nigerians and donated tech centres to over 25 institutions nationwide just to mention a few.

He  has earned over 6o international and local awards over many years of incisive entrepreneurship, was equally singled out and honoured by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the occasion of Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary on October 1, 2001 with an ICON OF HOPE award as a pride to modern Nigeria and as a model for Nigerian youths.

Again, President Obasanjo honoured him with another national award – the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 2003.

A Fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society, the umbrella body of all computer associations in Nigeria, he was also awarded the pioneer ICT Personality of the Year by this professional body.

In November 2019, Ekeh was honoured by President Muhammadu Buhari with the National Productivity Order of Merit award for his sustained leadership in the area of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

With over four Doctorate Degrees (Honorary) and fifteen fellowships from recognized institutions and as a former global advisor to Microsoft, as well as Forbes Best of Africa Leading Tech Icon Award his outstanding entrepreneurship.

Leo Stan is Ochiririozuo Ubomiri, Ebekuo Dike, Ideato and Iyi of Mbaitoli