By Chinenye Anuforo
Chairman of the Zinox Group, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, has set a goal to empower the continent’s tech future by developing over 10,000 female technology professionals within the next five years.
The initiative underscores the Zinox Group’s long-standing commitment to not only participating in Africa’s tech evolution but actively shaping its trajectory.
For more than three decades, Ekeh has been a forward-thinking leader in Nigeria’s technology sector. His latest vision focuses on harnessing the untapped potential of women to create one of Africa’s largest pools of tech talent. This commitment is already demonstrating tangible results through Zinox’s subsidiary, TD Africa.
TD Africa, under the leadership of Mrs. Chioma Ekeh, has emerged as the leading organization in sub-Saharan Africa for developing certified tech professionals. This achievement is largely driven by strategic alliances with globally recognized original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as HP, IBM, Dell and Cisco. Mrs. Ekeh’s strategic direction has been pivotal in scaling TD Africa’s impact in the tech distribution and training landscape.
A significant step towards realising Ekeh’s vision was the recent graduation of approximately 400 female participants from TD Africa’s TecHerdermy programme. This milestone reflects his long-held belief, articulated over 15 years ago, that women are poised to take on dominant leadership roles across various sectors, particularly in technology.
Global data increasingly supports this view. McKinsey’s 2023 Women in the Workplace report indicates that companies with gender-diverse executive teams are 25% more likely to experience above-average profitability. Furthermore, the World Economic Forum’s research suggests that economies with higher female labour force participation see an average of 3.4% higher GDP growth.
In the technology sector specifically, Deloitte’s 2023 “Global Technology Leadership Study” revealed that companies with above-average gender diversity in their technology teams report 30% higher innovation revenue compared to those with below-average diversity.
The Zinox Group itself exemplifies this philosophy, with over five female CEOs leading various business units within the conglomerate and driving significant results. These leaders embody qualities such as fostering positive work culture, focused execution, high emotional intelligence, and resilience – attributes that are crucial in Africa’s dynamic tech landscape.
Ekeh’s commitment to talent development has created a ripple effect across Africa’s tech ecosystem, with former employees now leading multinational corporations, carrying the values and vision instilled within the Zinox Group.
Speaking at a recent AI and Robotics Summit, Ekeh emphasized the importance of competing through exceptional content to achieve Nigeria’s potential. He reiterated his long-standing belief in technology as a transformative force, despite past setbacks.
He advised entrepreneurs to invest in research, human capital development, and spiritual content, highlighting that true innovation requires character, vision, and purpose alongside technical knowledge.
His vision extends beyond Nigeria, aiming to build the biggest tech solution company in Africa and shift the continent’s role in technology from consumption to creation.
With the African tech market projected to reach $712 billion this year and women-led startups demonstrating higher returns on investment Ekeh’s focus on empowering female tech professionals appears to be a strategically sound move towards unlocking Africa’s full technological potential. As the continent positions itself in the global digital economy, the Zinox Group’s initiative signals a strong belief that the future of African tech leadership is increasingly female.