Leo-Stan Ekeh is 2011 IT Personality of the Year
Leo-Stan Ekeh, FNCS, OFR, Chairman of the Zinox Group has won the 2011 IT Personality of the Year Award. He was announced as the winner of the IT community’s most prestigious award at the annual National Information Technology Merit Awards (NITMA) recently organized by the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos.
Event
The colourful award ceremony which also included the investiture of the NCS President and announcement of other awards was attended by Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Honourable Minster of Communication Technology, Mr Chris Onyemenam, Director-General of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Mr. Emeka Ezekwesili, Director, National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) representing the Director General of NITDA, Engineer Chidi Nwafor, Head of ICT, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) representing Chairman of INEC, Professor Attahiru Jega, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, as well as a significant number of very important IT industry leaders.
Nominees
As top contributors in the IT industry and community, all finalists for the IT Personality Award the most celebrated in the IT field were given prizes recognizing their excellence at the NITMA award ceremony. In addition to the winner, other IT heavyweights shortlisted for the high status honour were:
- Mr. Austin Okere, GMD, Computer Warehouse Group – one of the fastest growing information and communication technology companies with three divisions – CWL Systems, DCC Networks and ExpertEdge Software.
- Ms Funke Opeke, MD/CEO MainOne Cable Company – the first submarine cable company offering open access, wholesale broadband capacity in West Africa.
- Mr. John Tani Obaro, MD/CEO, SystemSpecs Limited – leading provider of e-Payment, Financial, and Human Capital Software Solutions for the Nigerian and African environment
- Mr. Mitchell Elegbe, MD/CEO, Interswitch Limited – provides online, real-time transaction switching that enable businesses and individuals have access to their funds across the 24 banks in Nigeria and across a variety of payment channels such as Automated Teller Machines (ATMS), Point of Sale (PoS) terminals, Mobile Phones, Kiosks, Web and Bank Branches.
Finalists were selected and shortlisted in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the fast-changing world of information technology by the NCS NITMA event committee. The committee had multistakeholder representation including professional members of NCS, representatives of interest groups such as the Information Technology Industry Association of Nigeria (ITAN), Institute of Software Practitioners of Nigeria (ISPON), representative of the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) and representative of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).
Shortlisted in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the fast-changing world of information technology. The achievements of this year’s IT Personality of the Year nominees are impressive and groundbreaking. Their hard work and excellence in accelerating IT development in our nation has not gone unnoticed. They serve as a powerful reminder of the significant impact top achievers in the IT industry are making in Nigeria. Indeed the work they do through technology in Nigeria is critical in catalyzing change and facilitating sustainable national development and overall prosperity.
Award criteria include: Inspirational and Dynamic leadership, Advancement or application of Information Technology for significant value in society, Local and International Recognition of IT and IT related activities, Significant national impact in boosting IT penetration and driving change through IT, Demonstrable and Significant achievement through hard work, zeal, commitment and devotion and adding value to IT in Nigeria.
Online Voting and Accenture
NCS members voted through an online voting platform to choose who in their opinion, had made the most positive impact in IT over the past year. To ensure transparency and credibility, vote auditing was done by Accenture, the global management consulting and technology Services Company known for its world class auditing services. Overall results announced by Mrs. Omobola Johnson, Honourable Minster of Communication Technology indicated that Leo Stan Ekeh had emerged as the 2011 IT Personality of the Year.
Congratulations Leo-Stan Ekeh
An IT visionary, Leo-Stan Ekeh led a team of ICT Technocrats to found Zinox which he has built into one of the leading integrated ICT Solution providers in Africa over the years. Zinox is recognized as a pioneer this field with strong interests in Computer Hardware Manufacturing, Distribution, Critical ICT Solution, Telecoms, and world-class After Sales Support. Zinox’s vision is –“To be the leading and preferred source of world-class Information Technology products and solutions in Africa”.
Leo-Stan Ekeh’s words in a speech delivered this year highlight his visionary thinking: “I would love to be remembered as the man who computerized Nigeria and altered positively the destiny of many Africans through Digital Knowledge Democracy, a platform established to propagate the ideals of the Computerize Nigeria Project, a Zinox initiative”.
The IT Personality Award is the benchmark for excellence throughout the IT industry and community. In receiving the award the Zinox boss expressed his appreciation and pride at being recognized by his industry and profession. In his words, “I’m so excited. I really appreciate this and I’m highly honoured. My commitment is total. It’s not about money. It’s passion”.
NCS NITMA
The objective of these awards is to recognize, highlight and celebrate the contributions of people who set themselves apart through their commitment to their community. NCS uses the award to foster innovation and high performance in IT by focusing on the contribution of individuals that have excelled in the IT space during the year.
The Nigeria Computer Society is committed to using NITMA as a platform to promote talent, excellence, leadership, vision and commitment of individuals and organizations within the IT industry and community. NITMA sets a standard that all can strive and work towards for accelerated IT development in Nigeria.
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