As he prepares to turn 70 on February 22, 2026, Africa’s leading tech entrepreneur and Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh, has chosen to mark the milestone with a major investment in Nigeria’s future rather than a grand celebration.
Instead of hosting an elaborate birthday event, Ekeh has unveiled plans to fund 1,000 university scholarships for indigent Nigerian students to study Computer Science in federal universities across the country. The initiative is designed to nurture a new generation of highly skilled, tech-driven leaders capable of boosting Nigeria’s competitiveness in both the public and private sectors.
According to him, the beneficiaries, who will not be placed under any post-graduation bond — are expected to become catalysts for national transformation and help position Nigeria more strongly within the global digital economy.
Selection into the programme will be determined through a nationwide assessment process focusing on minimum IQ benchmarks and age criteria. The scholarship is targeted at students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly those whose parents earn below Government Level 10 or its equivalent in the private sector.
Beyond covering tuition, the scheme is structured as a comprehensive development pipeline. Beneficiaries will receive mentorship from their first year, exposure to global best practices, and multidisciplinary training that extends beyond core technology education.
Ekeh disclosed that he is planning a partnership with the Computer Society of Nigeria to support the mentorship framework. The first batch of beneficiaries is expected to commence in September 2026, with an ambitious target of producing first-class graduates.
Describing the scholarship as his personal and corporate gesture of appreciation to Nigeria, Ekeh said it reflects gratitude to the Federal Government, corporate institutions, and individuals who have supported his technology ventures over the past four decades, including Task Systems, TD Africa, Zinox Technologies, and Konga.
He stressed that Nigeria must deliberately build indigenous technological capacity or risk deepening dependency in critical sectors such as oil and gas, banking, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, entertainment, and public administration.
Ekeh, who was honoured as “Icon of Hope” by former President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003, described the project as “spirit-driven” and acknowledged that it would require billions of naira annually to sustain.
The scholarship adds to a broader portfolio of human capital initiatives spearheaded by Ekeh and the Zinox Group. Over the years, the conglomerate has trained more than 3,000 Nigerians and established technology centres in over 25 institutions nationwide. Through the Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation and affiliated companies, entrepreneurship hubs have also been launched in institutions such as St. Augustine University, Epe; Federal University, Birnin Kebbi; and Imo State University, providing mentorship, digital tools, stipends, and in some cases, interest-free loans to young entrepreneurs.
With this latest commitment, Ekeh is once again placing technology at the centre of Nigeria’s long-term economic transformation strategy, and choosing legacy over luxury as he marks a landmark birthday.
