Africa’s foremost serial digital icon, Leo Stan Ekeh, last weekend donated a multi-million-Naira AI-Tech Centre to Holy Ghost College, Owerri, Imo State at a ceremony that added colour to the 77th years anniversary of the school.
The centre was built by the Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation in partnership with all the companies under the Zinox Group, namely TD Africa, Zinox Technologies, Task Systems, Konga Group, etc.
The AI -Tech centre construction supervised by Mr. Ekeh himself from block quality standard to final finishing is equipped with highly integrated All-In-One Zinox Computers, 24-hour solar-power and enabled with high speed Starlink corporate internet connectivity signed up for the college for five years. In addition to its Eco-friendly features, like the lifestyle integrated computer tables and chairs, it is fitted with two large AI-active screens for real- time online tutorials, turning the popular Catholic secondary school into one of the global smart tech colleges that will explore infinite possibilities in Africa.
Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, an alumnus of the school, said he was inspired by the desire to turn graduates of the college into 21st Century globally-certified whizzes who can effectively compete with their mates from all over the world.
He said: “It is my prayer that this centre shall produce Nigeria’s tech driven billionaires who can defend their wealth and alter the destinies of millions of Nigerians. Few of us who are wealth creators in Nigeria are miracle kids because during our time we technically lacked everything, but God helped us to emerge as wealth creators. It is my wish that this centre shall create a tech culture for our kids and that the training on AI and certified contents which we have signed with different globally rated consultants shall make the centre a standout tech hub.
“This centre shall earn the status of Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Starlink certification centre very soon and a model to other colleges in the Southeastern part of Nigeria and by extension Nigeria. We are hiring a Director for the Tech Centre and few other staff to complement its leadership. We have structured trainings on finishing school, ethics, etc., including retraining the teachers on modern skills of teaching, transparent communication, and digital psychology in dealing with today’s smart kids.
“My family and I through the Foundation and companies under the Zinox group have done similar projects including Entrepreneurial centres in over 123 Primary, Secondary, and tertiary institutions across Nigeria quietly since 1996 and when we are done with few committed projects in the next 12 months, we shall now concentrate on our 1000 tech university scholarships project. It is our way of giving back to the society and appreciating those who supported and are still supporting our companies while providing world-class tech human capital that shall drive their growth and defend the nation in future. I also hope other Nigerians can do same in educational institutions around them or their alma mater. We must consciously upgrade Nigeria by investing in tech and the youths.
“We have budgeted to do more. We shall refurbish and create an intelligent hostel with Al-amenities to celebrate wizkids in the college and encourage their mates on healthy living and competition. It will be a privilege to be accommodated in this intelligent hostel and each year, a student accommodated here shall earn a congratulatory letter from the foundation with a token gift. We need to reset the mind set of our kids to earn global citizenship if we must earn a decent future,” he told the audience which included Catholic Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, Bishop of Owerri Ecclesiastical Province, priests, principal of the college, Rev. Dr. Samuel Agu; the state commissioner for education (Primary and Secondary), Professor Bernard Ikegwuoha, old students, parents, and over 1,600 secondary school students drawn from different schools in the state.
Describing the AI-tech centre as the first in the south east, he urged the students to take full advantage of it to make a success in life, stressing that in the 21st century, ICT provides children of the poor the pathway to upset the rich. He urged the students to take advantage of the 1000 tech university scholarship instituted by his Foundation in partnership with Zinox Technologies, TD Africa, Task Systems and Konga Group for Nigerian indigent tech students in Nigerian universities and polytechnics.
The scholarship is now live on konga.com, just click the 1000 tech scholarship banner and get full information regarding the scholarship.
Ekeh promised to ensure that those manning the centre are properly skilled and remunerated. He listed no fewer than seven secondary schools across the country that will benefit from infrastructural development including building residential apartments for some teachers and knowledge workers, and mini-ICT centers to create tech culture in these institutions within the next one year.
Ekeh who shared with the audience his life’s experience, also narrated how ICT has lifted and raised global billionaires like Elon Musk, Bill Gates, among others. He told the students that they can be the next generation game-changers and billionaires if they get serious with ICT, adding that in life “many are called but few are chosen. You can become the chosen ones if you acquire the right ICT skills with structured mentality which is an opportunity that the tech-center offers.”
In solidarity, a friend of Ekeh and a successful Imo son, Chief Jerry Chukwueke, who is the founder of Germaine Group, donated the sum of N10 million to the school.
The Catholic Archbishop of Owerri, Rev. Ugorji, assisted by Mr. Cosmas Ibe, an old boy of the college, cut the tape to inaugurate the centre. The Archbishop thanked Ekeh for the “Godly and noble gesture,” which he emphasized was “borne out of love and not for political gain as Ekeh is not a politician.”
Reverend Ugorji challenged the students to justify the donation of the centre by becoming ICT experts. “Take good care of the centre; do not destroy it, do not steal. Make it your own property and protect it,” he admonished.
The principal of the college, Rev Dr. Samuel Agu, thanked the Ekeh family for such investment that has the capacity to transform the students to successful leaders tomorrow, not only in ICT but in other sectors.
An overly excited commissioner for education (primary and secondary education), Imo State, Prof. Bernard-Thompson Ikegwuoha, showered gratitude on the Ekehs for choosing to be part of the transformation taking place in Imo state education ecosystem. He described Ekeh as a worthy son of the state and an exemplar of good deeds.
