News
Garlands for Leo Stan, Icon of Hope @ 60

Leo Stan Ekeh, Icon of Hope is 60! And for his family, friends and associates; words cannot express their love, respect and admiration for Nigeria’s quintessential businessman.
He is an inspirational motto, lesson as well as a reminder to all that leadership is not the rare gift reserved to a chosen few and charismatic unique individuals, but a potential that lies within all and that we are all called to awaken by finding our passion and living a purposeful life.
A firm believer in his goal, Leo Stan has pushed himself and those around him beyond what might be considered comfort zone and rational.
Born to Late Chief and Mrs. Ebenezer Ekeh on February 22, 1956, in Ubomiri, Mbaitoli LGA, Imo State; Leo Stan optimises the “can-do-attitude” which has enabled him excite and conquer all the industries he bestrides.
Armed with first class education from some of the world’s leading institutions, Leo Stan is living a life of many firsts.
He started as a very small entrepreneur but today, the Zinox group is the largest ICT group in sub-Saharan Africa.
The group is into ICT products manufacturing, distribution, upscale core technology solutions and support and more.
But let’s start from the first company: Task System.
It all started when he came back to Nigeria and had to create a bit of disruption in the system because the economy was an IBM-driven economy.
So Leo Stan, came with Apple Macintosh.
He launched Apple in the country about 24 years ago and computerised all the media and multi-media houses in the country, including the book publishing houses nationwide.
After this first disruptive move, he moved to offer solutions to the oil and gas sector of the economy and it was at this point that Steve Job enhanced the Graphics interface of Apple with User interface which limited it initially from being used in the corporate sector as an alternative to IBM, and that gave Leo Stan the impetus to expand into the rare corporate sector.
His first company, Task System delivered solution to the first 20 largest multinationals in the country in the 80s, 90s and till today.
That is in the oil, banking and manufacturing sector. It’s a highly integrated solution company.
And in order to segment the market, he launched the first ICT distribution company in West Africa – Technology Distributions, which today is the largest ICT distributor in sub-Saharan Africa and controls 70 per cent of the Nigerian ICT distribution market.
The icing on the cake was the launch of Zinox in 2001 to create digital identity for Nigeria.
It was the he first ever internationally certified branded computers OEM in West Africa, the first computer company in the world to incorporate the Naira sign on its keyboard and the first metropolitan Wimax solution in Nigeria.
But within Zinox, there are digital Internet hub called Zinox Telecom which is streaming online content using the group’s robust broadband infrastructure to about 226 tertiary schools and over 1,000 secondary institutions and other strategic corporate organisations in the country.
He also caused the biometric digital revolution in Nigeria with INEC voter’s registration in 2006 when foreign contractors could not deliver after months of promises.
Again he supervised the largest single ICT digital rollout in Africa with INEC in 2010 through his company Zinox Technologies that won the over N27b contract.
A true inspiration for many to follow and a devout Christian and family man; Leo Stan is married to Chioma and they have five beautiful children.
He is also a philanthropist of repute who gives out nearly half of his earnings yearly for the betterment of mankind and in line with his covenant with his God.
He encouraged Apple Computers, Hewlett Packard, Compaq, Microsoft, Lenovo etc. come into Nigeria to establish offices because of his crusade for Digital emancipation of Africans.
Leo Stan has served the Federal government in several strategic Presidential Committees including the most strategic seven-man Committee under President Obasanjo administration – “The Nigeria Thinkers”.
This was the strategy and tact committee headed by the President that visualized the Nigeria global road map and possible dominance in select sectors in Africa and the world
Leo Stan over a hundred awards including; Icon of Hope Award by President Olusegun Obasanjo on the 1st of October 2002 for his exemplary Digital vision and as a Model for modern Nigeria.
He was awarded Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) for his incisive digital Entrepreneurship; and pioneer ICT Personality of the year by Nigeria Computer Society – the Umbrella body of all Computer Associations in Nigeria.
A fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society and distinguished Fellow of the Nigeria Law School, Leo Stan has over six Doctor of Science Degrees (Honoris causa) from FUTO, UNIJOS, FUAM, IMSU etc.
A most sought after personality in both local and international ICT events, Leo Stan is Microsoft Inc. Global Adviser and mentor to several start-ups in Nigeria.
Not resting on his achievements, Leo Stan has an ambition to build the first and largest 360 degrees ICT conglomerate in Africa and with his Group investment in Xputer, a 21st century Software company.
Today, he can claim to be there having taken leadership in ICT Solutions (Task Systems Ltd.), ICT Distribution (Technology Distributions), Digital Hardware manufacturing and Hybrid ICT solutions, Retail (Yudala by relationship), Enterprise Digital Internet Hub (Zinox Telecoms Ltd, Nigeria and Ashour Corporation, Dubai) just to mention a few.
As he marks his birthday, we pray God to continue to grant him good health, wisdom and many more years so that mankind will continue to draw from his wealth of experience, forthrightness and exceptional leadership.
News
Dangote Refinery Debunks Speculations on IPO

Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals (DPRP) has debunked recent circulation of unauthorised information regarding a potential Initial Public Offering (IPO).

In a statement, DPRP noted that several online platforms and unofficial sources have published unverified, and in some instances inaccurate, information relating to a potential offering.
“Such reports do not originate from DPRP and should be treated with caution. All official updates regarding any potential transaction will be communicated strictly through DPRP’s formal public disclosures and announcements issued by its appointed advisers, in line with applicable laws and regulatory requirements.
“Accordingly, the public, investors, and all market participants are strongly advised to disregard speculative commentary and rely solely on verified information formally issued by DPRP or its authorised representatives,” the statement said.
The firm assured stakeholders that, when appropriate, comprehensive, and accurate details regarding any proposed transaction will be made available through official channels, including regulatory filings, authorised press releases, and coordinated communications by the Enterprise and its appointed advisers.
News
Descasio Launches “Give to Gain” Leadership Insights Report, Hosts Executive Brunch for Women in Leadership

In celebration of International Women’s Day, Descasio hosted an intimate executive brunch bringing together distinguished women leaders from its customer community for a thoughtful conversation on leadership, partnership, and shared growth.

Centered around the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, “Give to Gain,” the gathering created space for accomplished women in enterprise leadership to reflect on mentorship, collaboration, and investing in people as key drivers of sustainable growth.
Held in Lagos, the event convened leaders from organizations including Honeywell Group Limited, Finchglow Travels, NGCOM, and Eroton Exploration & Production Company.
Guests were personally welcomed at the start of the gathering by Mr. Dele Nedd, CEO of Descasio; who greeted each of the women leaders and expressed his appreciation for their presence before leaving the session to allow the women lead the conversation among themselves.
The gesture reflected Descasio’s leadership culture; one where women are not only recognized, but actively supported and empowered. It also underscored the company’s belief that meaningful progress in leadership requires partnership and allyship across the organization.
Rather than a traditional panel discussion, the brunch was designed as a candid and reflective exchange among peers navigating leadership in complex industries. Throughout the conversation, participants shared perspectives shaped by experience, responsibility, and the realities of leading teams and organizations.
A recurring theme in the discussion was the role of execution and accountability in leadership. For many organizations, strategy alone is not enough; consistent delivery is what ultimately builds credibility and trust.
Reflecting on this, Josephine Adebola, Data Compliance & Process Automation Manager at Finchglow Travels, emphasized the importance of reliability in leadership and the discipline required to translate vision into results. “Get it done on time and in full.”
The conversation also explored the role of curiosity and continuous learning in shaping effective leaders. In rapidly evolving industries, the ability to ask questions, remain open to new perspectives, and keep learning is often what enables leaders to grow alongside their organizations.
Sharing her perspective, Tomi Otudeko, Chief Operating Officer at Honeywell Group Limited, reflected on how curiosity has shaped her leadership journey.
“Asking questions and continuously learning have always stood me in good stead as a leader.”
She also spoke about the importance of leading with empathy and understanding the people behind the roles within organizations.
“Everyone has multiple dimensions to who they are. Leadership has taught me to see people in their totality. That awareness doesn’t make a leader weak; it makes them more effective.”
Another important theme that emerged from the conversation was authenticity in leadership. In an environment where leaders often face pressure to conform to traditional expectations, remaining true to one’s identity while continuing to evolve is essential.
For Helen James-Eziashi, General Manager at NGCOM, authenticity and curiosity remain key guiding principles. “Be yourself, keep learning, and stay curious.”
The discussion also highlighted the role of self-awareness in sustaining leadership journeys, particularly in complex and high-responsibility environments. Understanding one’s values, motivations, and support systems often becomes the anchor that allows leaders to navigate uncertainty with confidence.
Reflecting on this, Ifeanyi Onyejekwe, IT Manager at Eroton, emphasized the importance of knowing what grounds a leader.
“Know who you are and understand what supports and sustains your leadership journey.”
According to Descasio, the event reflects its broader commitment to building strong partnerships and fostering meaningful leadership conversations across its enterprise customer community.
“For us, this was about more than marking International Women’s Day,” said Umama David-Ogebe, The HR Manager at Descasio. “It was about creating a space where leaders could learn from one another and reflect on the kind of leadership that builds strong organizations. The most meaningful partnerships grow from conversations like these.”
To extend the impact of the discussion, Descasio has published “The Give to Gain Leadership Report: Insights from Women Leading Enterprise Organizations,” a curated publication capturing key reflections and leadership lessons shared during the session.
The report highlights themes including:
- The role of curiosity and continuous learning in leadership
• Building stronger teams through empathy and accountability
• The importance of authenticity and self-awareness in navigating leadership journeys
• How investing in people drives stronger partnerships and resilient organizations
The Give to Gain Leadership Report is now available for download Here.
News
World Backup Day: Research Reveals 84% of Users Store Sensitive Data Digitally

Ahead of World Backup Day, Kaspersky reveals the most popular ways to store important data and gives practical advice on how to keep it safe. Global research shows that zoomers and millennials keep nearly everything electronically, while almost one‑in‑three respondents over 55 y. o. still prefer good old‑fashioned paper.

Where do we store what matters?
Research* conducted by Kaspersky’s Market Research center shows that most people prefer to keep important info stored digitally.The majority of all respondents (84%) claim they store sensitive personal data like ID, financial details, healthcare related info or photo archive in electronic format.
When it comes to digital data storage, more than half (56%) say they keep their important records on a computer or a hard drive, 45% use cloud solutions and 20% entrust their data to government digital services.
Does digital mean safer?
Each storage method has its own advantages and limitations. Physical media can be lost or suffer damage, external hard drives are not always convenient to use on the go and cloud services, while being accessible, are vulnerable to unauthorised access. To maximise digital data security, Kaspersky experts advise adhering to the following best‑practice recommendations:
- Develop a backup strategy
There is no universal approach to data storage, nor is it necessary to back up every single file. Nonetheless, cultivating a regular backup routine is strongly recommended, particularly for sensitive data or files that cannot be regenerated or recovered through other means.
According to the popular 3-2-1 backup strategy you should have at least three copies of important data, store it on two different storage types, and make at least one copy off-side (cloud or external physical location).
The most sensitive data like passwords, ID or financial details requires special attention. Use a dedicated security solution like Kaspersky password manager, which apart from securely keeping users’ credentials and bank cards, has a special secret vault functionality aimed at storing important documents, for example, scanned Passports/IDs and PDF files, addresses and notes.
- Protect your vaults
According to Kaspersky’s data, 98% of all respondents take at least some measures to protect their personal data storages, which is a good sign. However, 36% of respondents use quick-to-remember passwords to safeguard their personal data.
Relying solely on simple passwords leaves your digital vaults vulnerable to brute‑force attacks. That’s why experts recommend enabling two‑factor authentication (2FA) wherever it is available or adopting passkey technology. Passkeys can be stored securely in a password manager and accessed seamlessly from any authorised device.
- Set up automatic backups where possible
Continuously remembering to perform backups can be cumbersome. To streamline the process, enable the built‑in backup service on every device you use (e.g., iCloud for iPhone/iPad/Mac, Google Drive/OneDrive for Android/Windows).
Test it once a month or two by restoring a single file, just to be sure the backup works. Kaspersky Premium allows users to make regular backups and restore information on Windows devices. Backup copies of data can be easily saved on removable drives or in cloud storage in an encrypted format.
“We all know backups are important, but most of us never do them because we try to back up everything at once and it gets overwhelming. The smarter approach? Treat backup like any other workflow. Tag your files – critical, important, low‑priority.
Automate real‑time backups for the critical stuff, schedule weekly or monthly backups for the rest. And for sensitive data like passwords and IDs, use our dedicated solution with a secret vault to keep it secure. When you automate and prioritise, you protect what really matters without getting overloaded,” comments Marina Titova, Vice President for Consumer Business in Kaspersky.
The study was conducted by Kaspersky’s market research center in November 2025. 3000 respondents from 15 countries (Argentina, Chile, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, UK, United Arab Emirates) took part in the survey.
E-Financial2 days agoCBN bars large‑ticket loan defaulters from banking services in tough new crackdown
General News2 days agoARN Rejects Medical Bill over Attempt to ‘Scrap’ Profession
Telecom2 days agoNIGCOMSAT Supports Startups Growth with the Launch of Accelerator 3.0
News2 days agoMeningitis Kills a Quarter Million People a Year -Study
Telecom2 days agoFG Unveils Digital Economy Research Fund Scheme
News2 days agoStakeholder says AI is Crucial to Nigerian Data Centres Amid Persistent Grid Collapse
- General News2 days ago
Nigeria Advances Digital Governance as NITDA takes over NGEA Portal
General News2 days agoZarttech Reflects on Its Role in Changing Global Perceptions of Africa













