“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
—Winston Churchill
By Omoniyi Salaudeen
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Nigeria is a country where little attention is paid to the young generation. Grappling with a clueless and inept political class, the best Nigerian youths have ever got as a promise is the rhetoric of a better tomorrow that may never come. But behind the terrible ugly mask of a bad leadership lies the beautiful soothing countenance of prosperity. Prosperity driven by digital revolution. This is coming from no other person than Leo Stan Ekeh, the Chairman of Zinox Group.
Ekeh’s legacy is built on a foundation of pioneering innovation, unwavering belief in local capacity, and a deep-seated commitment to human capital development. He remains a figure who is more respected for his work and vision than for his celebrity. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo aptly named him as an Icon of Hope due to his numerous contributions to the nation-building effort.
In a renewed hope-rekindling effort, Ekeh has launched a life-changing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative to empower young Nigerians. The initiative is branded as the Computerise Nigeria Initiative and aims to provide one million young Nigerians with laptops and supporting digital infrastructure over the next seven years. It was unveiled at GITEX Nigeria 2025 in Lagos and it’s a partnership between Zinox Technologies and KongaCares, the philanthropic arm of Konga Group, which is also owned by Zinox Group. This collaboration leverages the resources and expertise of both companies to achieve a wider reach. This initiative is being hailed as one of the largest private-sector-led digital interventions in Nigeria’s history and aligns with the government’s broader digital transformation goals.
The gesture is far more than a simple donation. By providing the tools for digital empowerment, Ekeh’s initiative is sowing the seeds for a future where a digitally literate and skilled workforce can drive innovation, create jobs, and build a more prosperous and hopeful society. Ekeh believes that investing in science and technology is fundamental to a nation’s economic advancement. And it goes beyond simply distributing laptops. The Computerise Nigeria Initiative is designed as a holistic intervention to transform classrooms across Nigeria. Apart from laptops to be given to beneficiaries, the devices are bundled with uninterrupted power supply solutions through Zinox’s iPower inverters, and satellite internet connectivity powered by Starlink. This approach ensures that the recipients can actually use the devices effectively, even with Nigeria’s power and internet challenges. The programme also includes on-going training and after-sales support to ensure that the beneficiaries can make the most of the technology.
This philanthropic gesture is a reflection of Ekeh’s long-standing personal commitment to digital education and his belief in Nigeria’s potential. The project is a landmark effort to bridge Nigeria’s digital education gap. By providing access to technology and the necessary infrastructure, it aims to democratize access to education and ensure that a student’s economic background or location does not determine their digital future. By empowering one million youths with digital tools, the initiative has the potential to create a new generation of tech-savvy professionals and entrepreneurs who can contribute significantly to Nigeria’s digital economy.
The laptops and internet connectivity will empower young people to become entrepreneurs. They can use the devices to build websites, market their products and services online, and access e-commerce platforms. This leads to the creation of new businesses, which in turn creates jobs and stimulates economic activity.
A digitally literate and skilled workforce is a major attraction for foreign and local investors. As more young Nigerians gain access to technology and acquire skills, it makes the country a more attractive destination for tech companies and startups. This creates a virtuous cycle where investment leads to more job creation, which further boosts the digital landscape.
The laptops will enable youths to participate in the burgeoning global gig economy. They can offer their skills as freelancers on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, providing services like writing, transcription, and virtual assistance to a global client base. This creates a new source of income and helps to reduce unemployment.
As more youths become digitally literate, they will be able to collaborate and share ideas, leading to the creation of innovation hubs and tech ecosystems. These hubs will become breeding grounds for new ideas and solutions to local problems, leading to a more vibrant and innovative economy.
In a country grappling with high unemployment and economic hardship, a gesture of this magnitude can restore hope. It shows that there are opportunities for young people to build a better future, and that they have the tools to do so. This can help to combat hopelessness and reduce social vice.Ironically, news like this hardly attracts public attention. More often than not, the philanthropic gesture of a quiet, behind-the-scenes hero like Ekeh often struggles to compete for public attention with more sensational or frivolous events. And the reason is simple. The algorithms favour spectacle over substance, and the public often follows suit. Nigerian media, and a significant portion of the public, are often drawn to news that is dramatic, controversial, or has an immediate impact such as political feuds, celebrity scandals, crime, and security issues.
In an era of instant gratification, people are more interested in what they can see and celebrate immediately. The Computerise Nigeria Initiative is a long-term project that will take years to fully realize its impact.
Due to decades of political corruption has led to a high degree of cynicism and mistrust among the public, a quiet and consistent philanthropic act like Ekeh’s can sometimes be viewed with suspicion or simply ignored because it doesn’t fit the expected pattern of a public figure seeking attention. Nonetheless, Ekeh’s contributions to Nigeria’s technological landscape, and his sustained commitment to human capital development, have earned him a reputation that is arguably greater than the public recognition he has received.
Ekeh didn’t just join the tech revolution; he was instrumental in starting it in Nigeria. In an era when the country’s business climate was hostile to technology and local manufacturing, he pioneered computer manufacturing with Zinox. He ensured the brand was the first in Sub-Saharan Africa to receive the coveted Microsoft Windows Hardware Quality Lab (WHQL) certification, which was a monumental achievement at the time.
When foreign contractors failed to deliver on promises to digitize Nigeria’s voter registration system, it was Ekeh’s Zinox that stepped up to the plate. The company delivered a complex, integrated digital solution in a matter of weeks, a project that was crucial for the integrity of Nigeria’s elections. This demonstrated a belief in local capacity when many others would have looked to foreign firms.Ekeh’s philanthropy is not just about giving; it’s about empowerment. He is not just a businessman but a nation-builder. The young people who receive the laptops and the skills that they acquire will be the real testaments to the project’s success.
Above all, the government has a pivotal role to play in encouraging and incentivizing public-spirited organisations and individuals to engage in corporate social responsibility (CSR) and philanthropy. While many businesses recognise the importance of CSR, government policy can create a more robust and supportive environment for such activities. By providing clear and attractive tax incentives, by making it financially attractive for companies and individuals to give, the government can encourage more philanthropic activity. The government should not just be a regulator but an active partner in these initiatives.
The post Leo Stan Ekeh: Igniting prosperity through digital interventions appeared first on The Sun Nigeria.
