The Ideas Nigeria Movement (INM), a pro-innovation advocacy group, has lauded the Chairman of Zinox Group, Leo Stan Ekeh, for a landmark act of corporate philanthropy. To mark his 70th birthday, Mr. Ekeh bypassed traditional celebrations to instead grant university scholarships to 1,000 indigent Nigerian "wiz-kids" to study Computer Science in domestic institutions.

With an estimated investment exceeding N10 billion spread over several years, the initiative aims to build a sustainable pipeline of local tech talent.

Describing the gesture as a debt of gratitude, Ekeh noted that the scholarship is a thank-you to God, the Nigerian government, and the corporate sector for their steadfast support of the Zinox Group’s various subsidiaries over the decades.

In a statement issued by its Executive Secretary, Nadodo Abubakar, on Wednesday, the group commended Ekeh for his thoughtfulness and forward-looking gesture, describing the initiative as “structured, targeted scholarship and the first of its kind in Nigeria.”

“The concept of such structured, targeted, youth-focused scholarship is rare and laudable. For the first time in the history of Nigeria, we are seeing a scholarship of such magnitude solely dedicated to the study of computer science. This scholarship targets the most critical segment of Nigeria’s demographics – the youths. We consider this not just as an investment in the youths, but an expression of confidence in the future of the country, “the statement said.

INM described the scholarship as “the first ever futuristic scholarship in Nigeria capable of addressing the digital gap between Nigeria and other developing nations.”

The statement lamented Nigeria’s position on the 2025 Digital Identity Readiness report as well as the global Digital Adoption Index, which ranked the state of digital literacy among countries; stressing that whereas some Asians countries like Singapore and the Philippines are rubbing shoulders with Western nations, the same cannot be said of Nigeria.

The group described the scholarship gesture as a proof of patriotism, stressing that no foreign company could have done this despite the huge returns on investment they rake in from Nigeria.

INM, a group of professionals and entrepreneurs which seeks to promote development through innovation and capacity-building, urged other public-spirited Nigerians to sponsor more niche-focused scholarships as a strategy to build a future of shared prosperity for the nation.

It would be recalled that while announcing the scholarship earlier this week, Ekeh explained that selection shall be based on a minimum Intelligent Quotient and Age nationwide, adding that beneficiaries shall be schooled and exposed beyond tech to become global Tech Citizens.

“Each shall have a tech mentor from year one, as I plan a partnership with Computer Society of Nigeria and every vocation they will be engaged resourcefully. Beneficiaries shall be from poor homes with parents who earn below Government Level 10 and its equivalent in the private sector. The first batch starts this September,” the Zinox chairman said.

On the projected cost to undertake such huge project, he said: “It is a spirit-driven project to thank those who supported and are still supporting companies within the Zinox Group. It has an annual cost that shall run into billions of Naira and my group is committed to it amongst other social responsibility projects like TD Africa Project to produce 10,000 female tech experts out of which 400 have graduated and are fully employed in different corporates in Nigeria. This is a 10-year project with other perks. The full package shall be revealed online on March 22, 2026,” he said.

Update news