By Prince Osuagwu, Hi-Tech Editor

There is nothing new to write about Dr Leo-Stan Ekeh, one of Nigeria’s established serial entrepreneurs and acclaimed country’s tech torch bearer, who turned 70 on Sunday.

It’s difficult, if not almost impossible to create a new line for a man who’s testimonials spread the internet like water hyacinth covers the canal. A man who evidence of his ruggedness and philanthropy is on the lips of everybody who has had anything to do with technology in the African ecosystem.

Now, you wonder why on his 70th, not a few glasses clink; not a few prayers were said?

From the current Nigerian President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the former ones, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and other well meaning and respected Nigerian and African leaders, Ekeh has received kind words, soulful prayers and called remarkable names. All, emanating from his selfless activities in the aggregate African economy; an economy he has received bruises, pains and gains while helping to nurture with technology in almost 40 years.

Ironically, judging by his travails, history is yet to throw up a businessman more misunderstood,maligned and highly celebrated at the same time.

But in reality, the reason is not far-fetched. In all his life endeavours, be it family, business, religion or politics, Ekeh as a former DJ, knows when to push or pull his consoles.

Yes, you read right! The man who at 70, his head appears to be threatening not to grow another strand of hair, was an Afro-haired Disc Jockey. But, that’s a story for another day.

A fact his competitors, friends and even enemies have commonly agreed on, is that Ekeh is as organized as he is restless.

He is indeed a man of immense wisdom. The calm disposition with which he maneuvers his challenges or fights his battles is legendary.

Maybe, he’s an avid listener of music Legend Kenny Rogers whose classic number, THE GAMBLER says “ Every gambler knows, that secret to surviving is knowing what to throw up and knowing what to keep… knowing when to walk away and when to run…..”

At the home front, Leo Stan Ekeh comes across as a man who perfectly blends discipline and diplomacy.

A look at the career path of his children shows he’s a father who deliberately props and not forces. His dynasty can hardly suffer from inadequate inheritors.

For some of us who try to copy his family lifestyle, he also comes across as a husband who understands the nuances of coupledom.

He once told a story of a day he had to practically dress up in the car to quickly attend a business meeting. Although he never explained why a man who lives in one of the choicest mansions in Nigeria could choose to dress in the car, experience has shown that marriage is a different kettle of fish. It’s never a respecter of bank balances, chieftaincy titles or even military ranks. However, only responsible and wise couples always strategically avoid situations that can lead to muscle-flexing.

Religiously, Ekeh always describes himself as highly spiritual. And, that is not hard to see. Everytime he speaks about Nigeria, his focus is usually on hope and faith in God to always turn things around no matter how far it has gone in the wrong direction. He neither criticises any government nor the leaders but rather always calls for prayers for them.

He has this trademark and religious spirit of courage even in turbulent times.

A purely detribalised Nigerian, Leo-Stan Ekeh’ s almost 40 years of unbroken entrepreneurial journey that has taken him from ICT to banking and insurance, oil and gas service, and real estate investment, has created thousands of jobs and opportunities for Nigerians across tribes and tongues.

Through the various tech hubs his businesses and Foundation donated to tertiary institutions in different parts of the country, many young Nigerians have honed their ICT skills and are today Nigeria’s faces of new economic wealth.

. His philosophy of quietly executed, structured, targeted and productive philanthropy has seen him gift tech hubs equipped with light-years-ahead digital gadgets to tertiary institutions as well as offer scholarships to many students for studies in Nigeria and overseas.

Encountering him any day, he will be proud to tell you how he abandoned his studies abroad to pursue a career which kept ringing in his head and today has also brought him wealth and fame.

Although he was able to pick up his education in India, he however, took a risk to return to Nigeria to start a journey into the risk-laden world of entrepreneurship.

He founded Task Systems, a fully integrated IT solutions services company in 1987. It has since grown into a conglomerate under the Zinox Group.

Exploring the experiences of his post-graduate degree in risk management, it was only a matter of time for him to turn the inherent risk factors in the industry to opportunities and since then, it has been a story of heights of ascension.

When on October 1, 2001 the President, Olusegun Obasanjo bestowed on him the Icon of Hope Award, it was just to prove how his exemplary digital revolution, through the launch of Zinox Technologies had beamed a light of hope which will see Nigeria rule the global tech space. Today, it’s no longer hope, it’s a reality.

That singular patriotic investment transformed the media space by changing the face of newsrooms with computers, transformed private and public offices with the Computerize Nigeria project and ushered in digital education with the CANi initiatives.

At 70, this Ubomiri, Imo state-born tech icon deserves all the accolades coming from both government and private citizens because his life has affected everybody positively.

To mark his 70th birthday, he offered additional 1000 indigent students University scholarships to study Computer Science in Federal Universities.

What a way to celebrate a birthday; what a way to change the narrative and prove that life no longer begins at 40 but at 70.

Happy birthday the man chairmen love to call CHAIRMAN