Billionaire Leo Stan Ekeh Colours Lagos Skyline With N15b Tower

FUNSHO AROGUNDADE

The Victoria Island, Lagos skyline has dramatically transformed in the last few decades. For years, the Lagos skyline was defined by scores of iconic skyscrapers on Broad Street and Marina. But the upmarket Victoria Island area’s horizon has been in perpetual flux now for the better part of a decade.

So many beautiful supertall luxury skyscrapers, office towers and massive shopping centers have risen in this swanky neighbourhood but the area now host another beautiful tower. Thanks to multi billionaire mogul, Leo Stan Ekeh, the Chairman of Zinox Group.

As an ambitious businessman, Ekeh decided to partake in the transformation of Victoria Island with his newly completed N15 billion megadevelopment called Yudala Heights.

Since the imposing building literally sprouted in Idowu Martins Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, not a few who have sighted it attested to the wondrous taste of the Imo State-born business magnate, who is widely recognised for his pioneering efforts in Information Communication Technology, ICT,  in Nigeria nay Africa.

On Thursday, October 1, a day that commemorated Nigeria’s emergence as a sovereign state, particularly this year when Nigeria clocked 60 as an independent nation, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami was in Lagos to officially commission the prestigious eight-storey Yudala Heights as well as the revolutionary Tech Experience Centre, the first of its kind in Africa, cited within the building.

The Tech Experience Centre is an ambitious technology project that is widely expected to bridge the gap to cutting-edge technology for millions of Nigerians. With the centre, it will be the first time in the history of man and technology that global tech giants such as Cisco, Dell EMC, HP, Microsoft, Samsung, Philips, Bosch, Schneider Electric and Zinox, among others, are coming together to establish their respective experience centres under one roof to create a truly immersive and rich experience of latest technologies in action. 

Quite significantly, the unveiling of the Tech Experience Centre resonated with the recent call by Ekeh, a serial digital entrepreneur, on the Federal Government to declare October 1, 2020 Nigeria’s technology independence day.

Ekeh had based his recommendation on the giant strides recorded by the country in the area of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). And putting his money where his mouth is, for the first time, through Ekeh’s ingenuity, Nigeria will play host to the latest global technologies including those not normally available in Africa, offering all classes of visitors a first-hand experience of new gadgets, solutions and infrastructure that would have previously required a visit abroad, thereby saving corporate organizations, government establishments and individuals money or scarce foreign exchange expended on these trips.

Spotlight gathered that Ekeh had envisioned the building about 20 years ago after he set up Zinox. But at different times, he has had to alter the design, all in the quest of excellence.

For a man whose eyes are on the future, it is not surprising that the eight-floor architectural masterpiece has changed the narrative about the area for its beauty and artistic design.

The first floor of the ornate building, it was gathered, serves as a relaxation centre for the billionaire businessman, where he can enjoy jazz and other soulful tunes after work. 

Interestingly, in spite of his great accomplishments, one can say that Ekeh is still a story waiting to be told. Apart from being a giant in innovation and technology, Ekeh is also an astute businessman with decades of successes under his belt. 

Since the 64-year old Ekeh started out as a businessman, he has continued to ply his trade in such a way that makes many of his competitors green with envy. Considering his chain of businesses, which includes e-commerce, ICT with offices in major cities like Lagos, Paris, London and New York City, it is evident that he enjoys uncommon grace; especially when one considers the inclement business climate in the country.

For this and more, the consummate businessman has never hidden the fact that he enjoys the amazing grace of God in his life. 

Original article written for TheSUN