Lagos — Premier Nigerian computer brand, Zinox, last week got N3.5bn new fund injection in a move the owners said would help meet the demand of a very responsive market and also help position the brand as the computer of first choice across the West African sub-region.

"We are ambitious and want to change the landscape in 18 months," Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, Chairman of Zinox Computers told Vanguard when we sought for clarifications on the purpose of the fund.

The fresh fund is coming from the three main owners, namely: Stan Technologies of Nigeria, Mustek of South Africa and Alhaner Ventures of France.

After a board meeting of the company directors in Lagos, it was David Khan of Mustek South Africa who voiced the confidence of the investors when he hailed the Nigerian market for delivering the numbers, promising that the directors would continue to put more funds until they achieve the company of their dream that will be a major stimulus to the growth of the ICT sector in the country.

A summary of focus areas include the plan ton acquire majority shares in some local Nigerian computer companies, deployment of world class infrastructure which will accelerate expansion plans, and launch of a large software company, among others.

Apart from growing the market and acquiring more technologies that will make the Zinox systems more robust, a major concern being addressed is the rate at which computers will be available to buyers. The new fund will also allow Zinox to give out computers at interest free rate and thus encourage computer penetration and usage across the country.

Giving reasons for this bold venture, Ekeh told Vanguard: "We are set to launch interest free computer ownership scheme to Nigerians. After a successful launch of Zinox Student Computer Ownership, ZSCOP, and the current Computer Discount Scheme currently funded by a Nigerian philanthropist, few foreign interests have approached Zinox to use us as a credible platform to really test the reliability of the Nigerian consumer when it comes to items bought on credit. Zinox has been selected as a platform to increase IT penetration in West Africa and we are presently working out the modalities. Ultimately, Zinox hopes to achieve an offer of Zero interest for those Nigerians who are qualified," he promised.

Currently running neck to neck with HP on market share, according to figures by the International Data Corporation of the United States, IDC, and the only Microsoft certified OEM in West Africa, Zinox in the explanation of Ekeh is presently building the largest computer assembly in the whole of Africa, and hopes to launch a major software company in partnership with some Asians by 2009.

On what marks Zinox out as a unique brand, media manager for Zinox, Mr. Echika Ezuka had told Vanguard. "Zinox is the only Microsoft certified OEM partner in West Africa and the largest Intel corporation partner in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Zinox presently has twelve sales and support offices nation wide and intend to increase this to twenty by the end of 2008 in order to reduce the total cost of ownership of computers by being close to our customers so that when they have challenges we are there for them. Nigeria is becoming a dumping ground for all sorts of computers and we hope the Nigerian consumers insist on their right for at least twelve months comprehensive warranty," he said.

Ekeh also informed that by way of preparing for the expansion and rising demand Zinox was investing heavily in human capital. "We have just hired over forty new graduates for the first phase and they are all Nigerians."

Khan remarked that what Zinox is doing is the only way for African countries to witness growth, when they are able to retain talents and skills within their countries.

"One of the things that African countries need to do is the need for skills to stay in the country. Like the BEE - Black Economic Empowerment which encourages local skills and economic participation in South Africa, local empowerment is critical to the success of any economy," Khan explained.

Ekeh told Vanguard that for a fresh graduate to play a role in Zinox, that graduate would have to be incubated for at least nine months on the expense of his organization.

Zinox debuted in 2001 as the first internationally certified brand of Nigerian computers. By the end of the year the company hopes to expand its support network to 20 locations across the West African sub-region.

For the progress the company has recorded within this short period, Khan hailed Ekeh, asking for even support from the country to encourage him to continue to canvass ICT literacy and penetration in the country.

"Leo Stan has taken the franchise beyond our expectation in such a short period and this he has done with passion. I would say wait for another 12 months to really appreciate his road map. Stan is one gentleman you must trust because his focus is not just on money but rather building a knowledge driven Nigerian economy and we all support him and hope your government will support him to change the face of Nigeria because that is his passion," Khan said of Leo Stan Ekeh.