Zinox: Nigeria Must Develop Digital Culture to Leapfrog Technology

Emma Okonji

The Chairman of Zinox Computers, Leo-Stan Ekeh has said Nigeria must imbibe digital culture in order to leapfrog technology in the 21st Century.

Ekeh who was monitored on Arise Television yesterday, said the journey to digital economy is tough but insisted that the best way to go about it is to detach self from analogue to digital and imbibe the digital culture that would make the county develop fast in the use of technology.

He called on governments at all levels to drive computer penetration in schools and equip schools with the right technology that would make students competitive in today’s digital world.

He cited an instance where the former governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, contracted him to develop computer loaded with learning applications for students in Anambra State. He said such initiative was expected from the government to boost computer education in schools.

Ekeh added that the reason why Nigeria still have high unemployment rate in the country is because schools produce analogue graduates without computer skills to create jobs for themselves and for others.

“ I developed a programme called ‘Digital Innovation’, which is supported by Microsoft to train students in computer education, and today the programme has trained several students in digital skills and that is what the country needs,” Ekeh said as a guest on Arise Television yesterday.

He said Zinox brand of computer is doing well in the market.

Ekeh unveiled a plan to launch a computer factory in Ogba, a suburb of Lagos, which he said, has 165,000 square feet, designed to produce computers for Nigerians.

Speaking on the recent acquisition of Konga by Zinox Group, Ekeh said although they had Yudala as e-Commerce company before acquiring Konga, the group was actually looking into the future to merge Konga with Yudala, since Konga has the largest logistics in infrastructure. He said Konga would be launching new additional seven offline shops soon to complement the existing offline shops.

On the issue of online fraud, Ekeh said the challenge facing Nigeria was not only on infrastructure, but also in online fraud, but assured Nigerians that technology would address the issue of online fraud in the county, which he said was also a global issue.

He said his biggest competitors are the foreign counterparts who are using the latest technology to drive business. As for the local businesses that are also in the e-Commerce space, Ekeh said he funds them and help them to grow, while he also grows the the businesses under the Zinox group.