Microsoft names Leo Stan Ekeh, first African global advisor

DigitalSENSE Business News:

The world software giant, Microsoft has named the chairman of Zinox Group, Dr. Leo-Stan Ekeh, the first of its Global Partner Advisors, for a-two year term, reports DigitalSENSE Business News.

Ekeh, DigitalSENSE Business News learnt is the only African among the Advisors currently and was appointed in recognition of his pioneering and pivotal role in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) development in the continent, most especially, for his intuitive leadership and capacity to define market trends.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Ekeh, a Fellow of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and IT Personality of the Year 2011, appreciated Microsoft for identifying with his vision to move Africa from the analogue to digital platform.

He also commended Microsoft, the software multinational, for upholding the relevance and merits of the channel thereby helping to grow the IT market in Africa according to international standards.

Ekeh praised Microsoft for its belief in customer feedback as necessary consideration for business planning, product rollout and strategy development in both developed and emerging markets.

The Zinox Chairman told DigitalSENSE Business News that he would use the Global Advisor platform to advance the objectives of the Digital Knowledge Democracy and create technology value for Africans.

DigitalSENSE Business News recalls that on October 1^st, 2002, Dr. Ekeh was honoured as an icon of Hope by President Olusegun Obasanjo, for his sustained entrepreneurial efforts in Information Technology, he pointed out that part of his responsibility would be to advise Microsoft on how best to domesticate technology and catalyze development in Africa.

He pledged to work closely with ICT institutions, professionals, governments, and the trade to ensure that his contributions to Microsoft are truly representative.

Also commenting, the President, Institute of Software Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), Chief Chris Uwaje, described the appointment of Leo Stan Ekeh into the committee of Global Partner Advisors for Microsoft as a welcome development.

As said by him, the appointment of an African is a reflection of the growing importance of the African IT market.

He said that Leo Stan Ekeh has the experience, exposure and goodwill as pioneer of many strategic ICT platforms to make Africa proud in this endeavor, recalling that Ekeh’s sustained innovations have propelled many international OEMs to the Number One position in sub Saharan Africa.

Chief Uwaje said that this appointment means more than business for Africans because it would also be a source of inspiration for the development of IT capacities among professionals.

   

The Microsoft Global Advisor Committee is a committee of distinguished IT icons around the world who serve as feedback channel to Microsoft for business models and strategy for product rollout and meets two times every year. They also act as an advocacy group for customers and channel partners.

Remmy Nweke
... Making SENSE of digital revolution!
Pix: Dr. Leo-Stan Ekeh, chairman, Zinox Group