General News
Outsourcing Saves Cost, Improves Efficiency-Kruger
Roy Kruger is the Managing Director of BCX Nigeria, a 100% owned subsidiary of Business Connexion (BCX South Africa).
Kruger with more than 23 years experience in fixed and mobile telephony operations and management has gained a huge amount of knowledge relating to all aspects of telecommunications.
He spoke to hilary okeke on a wide range of issue in the industry.
About IPTV
IPTV stands for Internet Protocol Television whereby you use technology to take normal television, put it into IP packets and send them across to regional wide area or local area networks, as opposed to broadcasting in the traditional manner. Although IPTV can be broadcast across a satellite network; it is just a much cheaper and ubiquitous manner of sending television to users. To receive IPTV, you need a PC, and local people in the country do not have them. As you know, the most common way of receiving broadcast signals today is through TV sets. Once ICT infrastructure gets to more people, IPTV will become very common. Right now, IPTV is used mostly in office buildings or housing estates where people can run fibre optic rings around the place, and then bring it in via satellite and spread it around by a fibre optic link.
Current Global Recession and Business Sense in Outsourcing
Outsourcing in some instances can save a lot of money because what it basically entails is that you go to a company and present them with a proposal whereby you take over their manpower cost and the cost involved specifically with IT. If a company manufactures motor vehicles, its primary job is to manufacture vehicles and not to worry about the efficiency of the computers, or the pay increase for the personnel. As an outsourcing company, BCX will take away that burden on that company and take over their manpower and ICT management. There are lots of advantages to doing that because companies can save on manpower and more importantly, their IT remains up-to-date because we replace it as opposed to them buying and keeping it for many years. As an outsourcing company, we make sure that it remains up-to-date with no extra cost to the companies; all they need to do is pay a flat fee every month.
Role in IT Infrastructure Building
BCX does systems integrating. We do not use a specific product from a specific company. We use various products from various companies – the best in the world from different manufacturers. For example, we use products from Cisco, Huawei, Avaya, Nortel and a score of companies. We take these products and design them to suit the companies, and then install, commission and maintain the various companies’ networks.
Services for the Banking Sub-sector
Banks traditionally have perhaps a couple of thousand people working for them. So, the primary area we would like to work in is called Internet Protocol Telephony (IPT). Here, we rationalize the whole telephone system within the bank, we install a central call system which takes the place of the traditional Private Automatic Branch exchange (PABX), and we turn the whole network into a digital one. In other words, your phones become more than phones. On a single handset, you can browse the Internet, make voice calls, watch videos and communicate either within or outside of the building. On top of that, we put in place what is called unified communications which for instance, takes a voice message and turns it into a text message or vice versa. So on a single handset, you can make all your communications; hence the name ‘unified communications.’ You receive all communications whether text, e-mail, voice or video – you receive it onto one point of presence. For banks with head offices and hundreds of branches, we build wide area connectivity for those branches either by using satellite, radio or traditional terrestrial communications.
Disaster Recovery not Taken Seriously
That is an area where many people learn the hard way. What that means is they wait until an actual disaster takes place, and then it is a case of regrets. But a number of the bigger organizations have realized the importance of this. Companies can do disaster recovery themselves or outsource it, and that is becoming a very popular way of doing disaster recovery. Many companies, especially the telecom operators, are building data centres to which they then outsource IT infrastructure, and they provide services which include disaster recovery – that is now becoming very popular in Nigeria. The reluctance about disaster recovery may not necessarily be due to cost. The ongoing running of an infrastructure which you might or never need – that is where the cost comes in. It is not the hardware but the ongoing operations that do cost a lot of money.
Application of Business Intelligence in Organization’s Success
Business intelligence can be done in a number of ways. The most popular one is what we call the customer relationship management (CRM) system. CRM systems are traditionally very expensive to maintain. But with the call centre technology and the integration of CRM into call centres today, it is becoming a much easier task to do. It allows you to gain intelligence on your customers’ data – their hobbies, date of birth – so that you can better serve them. From the BCX point of view, we use business intelligence as a way of producing a business case for our customers. We put together the business case to show customers that by using this type of equipment and technology, they would gain a better access to their customers and thereby increase their market share.
IP without Fibre
If you look at the history of IP, it dates back to 1969 in the American Department of Defense. Within this department was a group called Advanced Research Project Agency (Arpa), and the Department asked Arpa to come up with a method of connecting every single computer to one another within the American defence force. So Arpa went out and found that some areas had IBM, some HP, some Dell – they were faced with the challenge of synchronizing the computers which could not communicate with one another. So the only way for them to do it was to come up with a common set of rules, which they used to connect all the computers to one another. And they thought: “We just might as well call this thing an Internet.” Thus the name, Internet Protocol (IP). That is, Internet set of rules. IP is just a set of rules. The question now is – how do we deliver Internet more efficiently? Internet can run on any type of infrastructure; it has no limits on the type of infrastructure on ground. It is only a set of principles that is implemented and then you can run voice, video and data on top of IP. It can run over fibre; it can run over copper; it can run over radio; it can run over satellite. There are no limitations. They all deliver the same in terms of quality; it is just that when you consider fibre optics, it can provide more bandwidth but if you are running over it or copper at the same speed, there is no difference in the delivery. They both deliver the same quality and at the same speed.
About BCX
BCX is arguably the largest ICT Company in Africa. We have more than 5, 000 people working for the company; we are Cisco Gold partners, Avaya Platinum partners; we have many accreditations with the largest companies in the world. Technology makes BCX tick but I think more than that, we look at the types of people we hire specifically in Nigeria. I have made it a routine to hire students that are just out of the university and they are all clever young guys. Within six months, they gain huge experience and exposure within BCX. Developing the young people within Nigeria is one of our goals.
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.
The former alter boy and chorister in his local community Catholic Church at Ubomiri, now a multi-billionaire, has stayed humble.
He draws a distinct line between capitalism and welfarism.
Leo Stan is great man, a leader with unparalleled integrity and a heart of gold.
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
Africa’s trading community is rapidly growing, evolving, and showing increasing interest in financial markets. From Lagos to Nairobi, from Accra to Johannesburg, more and more people are exploring financial markets as a way to develop skills, earn income, and participate in the global economy. But the ability to trade isn’t enough; traders also need reliable technology, fair conditions, and tools that help them make informed decisions and trade effectively.
JustMarkets
This is where trading platforms like JustMarkets make a significant contribution to the development and expansion of the trading community in the African region.
By combining global market access with a results-oriented trading environment, JustMarkets helps African traders compete head-to-head with those in the world’s largest financial centers, providing access to tight spreads, a wide range of analytical materials, and a variety of account types.
Breaking Barriers to Global Markets
For years, traders in emerging markets have faced limitations: slow platforms, a limited range of instruments, low liquidity, wide spreads, and infrastructure that hinders professional trading and effective analysis. Today, JustMarkets addresses this significant gap by providing African traders with access to a wide range of global financial instruments through a single, optimized online platform.
Now traders have the opportunity to test short-term strategies, long-term portfolio diversification, and learn how markets work. Traders can now explore opportunities in forex, commodities, indices, and stock markets without geographic barriers or technical difficulties.
A Trading Platform Built for Performance
Technology plays a critical role in modern trading. Market conditions can change in seconds, and execution speed often makes the difference between opportunity and missed entry. The JustMarkets leading trading platform is designed to support fast, confident decisions in real time.
Ultra-fast execution. Engineered for low-latency order processing, the app helps ensure trades are executed quickly and efficiently when markets move.
Full risk management. Stop-loss, take-profit, and position sizing can be managed directly from the chart, helping traders stay disciplined and protect capital.
Advanced charting. Interactive charts, multiple timeframes, drawing tools, and built-in indicators provide the analytical depth needed for informed trading decisions.
Real-time alerts. Instant notifications about price movements, order events, and key market developments help traders stay connected even when they’re away from the screen.
Secure authentication. Biometric login, encrypted data transmission, and advanced internal security protocols ensure that accounts and personal data remain protected.
This combination of speed, usability, and security makes professional-grade trading accessible from anywhere, even on the go with JustMarkets mobile trading app.
Trade a Wide Range of Global Markets
Access to diverse instruments allows traders to adapt to different market conditions and explore multiple strategies. JustMarkets provides African traders with the ability to participate in major asset classes worldwide.
Forex. Trade major, minor, and exotic currency pairs with competitive pricing and deep liquidity.
Gold & Metals. Access precious metals such as XAUUSD and XAGUSD, popular instruments for active traders and those seeking exposure to global macro trends with competitive spreads.
Indices. Engage with leading global stock indices including the S&P 500, NASDAQ, Dow Jones, DAX, and FTSE – markets that reflect the performance of major economies.
Stocks. Trade shares of global companies and high-volume market leaders, opening opportunities to follow international corporate trends.
Energy. Speculate on key energy commodities such as WTI and Brent crude oil, instruments often influenced by geopolitical and macroeconomic developments.
This broad market selection helps traders diversify and respond flexibly to changing global conditions.
Supporting Trader Development
Expanding technical, educational, and analytical capabilities extends beyond technology. JustMarkets also places a special emphasis on helping traders build knowledge and confidence. Access to educational materials, market analysis, and structured risk management tools fosters a more disciplined and informed approach to trading, including setting trading goals.
For many African traders, this means moving from random speculation and emotional trades to a more professional mindset, and most importantly, understanding that long-term success depends on strategy, risk management, continuous learning, and a cool head.
Connecting Africa to the Global Financial Ecosystem
Financial markets are becoming increasingly interconnected, with traders from all regions now participating in the same global capital flow. Offering advanced tools such as flexible leverage, fast order execution, and broad access to markets and trading assets, the JustMarkets online trading platform helps African traders become active participants in this ecosystem with full access to analytical and educational materials, as well as cutting-edge technological solutions for managing trades, accounts, and open positions. JustMarkets’ commitment to empowering traders, increasing financial literacy, and enabling people to engage with global markets on a level playing field. As the African trading community grows, online trading platforms like JustMarkets, which combine performance, accessibility, and security, will play a key role in this process. But pay attention that risk management still is a key to success as CFD trading involves risks.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, has issued an interim Mareva injunction freezing copyright levy funds due to the Musical Copyright Society of Nigeria (MCSN).
The order prevents the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and at least 20 commercial banks from disbursing these funds until further court proceedings.
The injunction stems from Suit No. FHC/L/CS/207/2026, following an ex parte application filed on February 5, 2026, by the Record Label Proprietors’ Initiative on behalf of 11 major record labels and music companies.
Plaintiffs include industry heavyweights such as Mavin Records, Davido Music Worldwide, Chocolate City Music, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Africa, and Warner Music South Africa.
The plaintiffs, through their attorney, sought to restrain the CBN from releasing any copyright levy funds related to sound recordings earmarked for MCSN.
They also asked the court to bar MCSN and its agents from accessing, transferring, or using the funds, whether received directly from the CBN or routed through commercial banks.
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