Leo Stan-Ekeh is the chairman and chief Executive of Zinox Technologies Limited manufacturers of Zinox computers, Zinox arguably sis the most popular computers in Nigeria having pushed other brands most of them international far behind.

Zinox's height on global rating currently perhaps has vindicated the tall dream, Stan-Ekeh planted as a seed in 2001 that has grown so big.

Zinox computers is the first internationally certified branded systems to be produced in Nigeria. At inception in 2001, Zinox received the quality endorsement and certification of both Microsoft and Intel. Microsoft after a careful observation had declared that Zinox computers "meet and surpass international quality standards".

Specifially Zinox computers has since debunked the perception below standard of a made in Nigeria product through continuous effort at adhering to international quality standards and specifications. This obviously has given rise to greater confidence and patronage of Zinox products.

The IDC report confirmed the market trend in its 2005 report, which rated Zinox as the second most sold computers in Nigeria and having delivered more systems to strategic areas of the economy more than any other brand in Nigeria.

The 2006 first quarter multi-sectoral analysis showed that in the Desktop market, Zinox computers sold 20 per cent of home systems, 20 per cent of Education, 30 per cent to Government, 5 per cent of small office users, 10 per cent to large businesses and 5 per cent to very large businesses.

Market watchers also confirmed the Zinox clear lead in the laptop market where the Zinox 255i mobile notebook remains the reference point and preferred choice of corporate Nigeria.

In line with the vision of Stan Ekeh and his team that promised in 2001 at the launch of the company to deliver world class products to Nigerians and beyond, Zinox market penetration has been swift. Nearly eight years after Zinox computers has not only delivered quality systems but has also established an elaborate branch network all over country, which has made the brand most accessible IT product in Nigeria in terms of sales and after sales support.

The penetration of the west African and African markets according to analysts has marked Zinox out as the computer of the future Africa.

One strategy that distinguished Zinox among the other competition is its pricing. To achieve affair pricing of its products Zinox Technologies Limited entered into a strategic and exclusive partnership with Ncomputing USA, the worlds leading provider of ultra low-cost computers and winners of the prestigious Wall Street Journal Award in Technology, for the most innovative new solution in computing systems.

According to Mr. Ekeh this strategic partnership strengthens the ability of Zinox to deliver on her resolve to bring computing to millions of Nigerians, who are ready to embrace IT but simply cannot afford it.

Rationalizing the partnership Ekeh said "This partnership will play an important role in closing down the global digital divided and in particular enhance the realization of the millennium development goal MDGs and vision 20:2020".

He stated that the Ncomputing innovation is ideal for government projects (local, state, and federal), educational institutions, manufacturing concerns, large Agric firms, small and medium Enterprises, research laboratories, cyber cafes and homes because of its central concept of the shared PC.

Ekeh said that Ncomupting has internationally acquired the reputation of being more rugged than the most durable PC because it can run anywhere -factory floors, assembly lines, distribution centres, warehouses, plant offices, dusty and dirty areas, high-heat locations, high vibration areas.

In a bid to bring the benefits of technology to tertiary institutions in preparation for life in the modern work-place, chief Ekeh who has a passion for e-learning and promulgation of information technology in every nook and cranny of the Nigerian society has over the years been championing his quest.

Through the Computerize Nigeria Project (CNP), Ekeh and his company Zinox has entered into partnerships with Nigerian universities and providing laptops and personal computers to students and their lecturers at subsidized rates.

The repayment options is usually spread over a few months to remove any strain and encourage the acquisition of PCs by both students and lecturers.

'Apart from distributing subsidized PCs and laptops, Zinox in partnership with other organizations launched computer laboratories in some higher institutions.

For instance, the computer firm in collaboration with OceanEnergy, National Petroleum Investment Management Services, Microsoft, British American Tobacco and Kansa state University launched a 362 computer lab tagged "University strengthening for improved Employability Project". Sunday Champion gathered that the project cost over US$1.3 million.

Ekeh had disclosed that the company has invested over N2.5 billion to increase capacities to deliver PCs products to the huge Nigerian market, adding that this investment has led to the production capacity of 3 million PCs per annum.

The national goals, according to Ekeh who has been in the forefront of pushing local PCs products to both public and private sectors of the Nigerian economy will include the creating of computer manufacturing capacities for Nigerians, the creation of millions of job and the establishment of an industrial infrastructure on which we can build future Nigeria.E-Government is fast taking a foothold in Nigeria and Zinox is also in the forefront of powering civil servant in this revolution. In February, Zinox and Akwa Ibom State went into a partnership to launch Awka Ibom staff computer acquisition scheme in Uyo.

The scheme was designed for civil servants on the Awka Ibom state payroll to own a branded computer with repayment conveniently spread over 12 to 18 months.

Ekeh had declared at launching of this scheme in Uyo that we are now in the century of freedom from the shackles of oppression, depression, poverty and under-development.

According to him the key to attaining this freedom is knowledge. " We said that knowledge is empowerment and empowerment is freedom. He explained that this country where the poor are in a position to have a say in their affairs, they are now in a position to attain the highest levels humanly attainable".

Apart from manufacturing of rugged and durable PCs, Zinox is knowned for designing innovative products. Recently the company introduced the Zinox Bijimi to South and East Africa.

The Zinox Bijimi, the digital bull, designed to fulfil the aspirations of laptop users for slimmer but rugged system has achieved penetration in the Nigerian market with ease.

The Bijimi innovation marks Zinox computers out as a listening company that has used the feedback from users to achieve technical improvement and enhance consumer benefits. The Bijimi PRO and Bijimi sage, built on the success of the Zinox divine laptop, with reputation in the market as Nigeria's number one selling laptop.

In 2008 Zinox excites computer users with the introduction of two world-class but low cost notebooks known as Zinox classmate and Zinox smart star plus.

The production of these unique products was the out come of collaboration between Zinox and Intel Corporation, the number one producer of Microprocessors in the world.

The Zinox classmate notebook is rated as the best notebook for scholars and students due to its outstanding performance with an 8.9" screen, 1.6 GHz, 30GB storage, 512 MB RAM, 1.3 Mega pixel camera, Wi fi Antenna, with a choice of Win XP starter Edition.

Notedly the quality of Zinox products and its penetration to the nooks and crannies of Africa and beyond has given it recognition and awards.

In 2006 Zinox received international standard organization (ISO) certificate, N15 150 9001:2000, from the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON).

N1S 1S0 9001: 2000 certifies that a company's product and services have met acceptable international standards and market demands.

Zinox Technologies Limited has consolidated its class as Africa's emerging technology power house with multiple international awards from Intel Corporation and WITSA respectively.

At the Intel solution summit in June, held in Czech Republic, Zinox was declared, for the second time, the Intel Global Award winner for mobile computing in Africa, Middle East and Turkey.

The award consolidates the place of Zinox computers I the Intel prestigious champions club for building a successful global brand. In effect Intel research team would continue to work with Zinox laptops which would beat competition.

Ekeh born on February 22, 1956, in Ubomiri, in Imo state attended St Mary's Catholic College, Ubomiri.

He later studied Economics at Punjab University Chandigarh, India and holds a post graduate degree in Risk Management from Nottingham University United Kingdom.