Zinox Group, an ICT company, has announced a strategic plan to train and empower over 10,000 female tech professionals within the next five years.
The initiative, which is being implemented through Zinox’s tech distribution subsidiary, TD Africa, reflects the company’s long-term commitment to inclusive innovation and gender-balanced leadership in the technology sector.
TD Africa, led by Chioma Ekeh, has already begun executing the vision through its TecHerdermy program, which recently graduated nearly 400 women. The program focuses on technical certifications and job readiness in collaboration with global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) such as HP, Dell, IBM, and Cisco.
“Women are not just participating in this program; they are leading, excelling, and showing the kind of resilience and focus that the tech industry needs.This is about economic transformation through gender equity,” Mrs. Ekeh, who also serves as an executive director at Zinox Group, averred.
The chairman of Zinox Group, Dr. Leo Stan Ekeh, at an AI and Robotics Summit organized by the Nigeria Computer Society, emphasized that Africa’s technological future cannot be built by half its population.
This initiative aligns with global research showing that increased female participation in tech yields higher business performance and innovation. A 2023 McKinsey report found that companies with gender-diverse executive teams are 25 percent more likely to achieve above-average profitability, while a Deloitte study the same year reported a 30 percent boost in innovation revenue for firms with diverse tech teams.
Zinox Group currently has more than five female CEOs heading various units within its conglomerate. According to Ekeh, this is not a symbolic gesture but a deliberate business strategy. “When women lead, they bring emotional intelligence, executional focus, and spiritual resilience, all of which are essential in today’s complex tech ecosystem,” he said.
With Africa’s tech market projected to reach $712 billion in 2025, according to the International Finance Corporation, the Zinox chairman believes that tapping into the female talent pool is both an economic imperative and a competitive advantage. “We must compete through exceptional content and exceptional people,” he said.
Despite past setbacks, including a $28 million loss from early investments in AI and robotics in Nigeria, Ekeh remains firmly committed to tech as a transformative tool. He continues to advocate for investment in three key areas: research, human capital development, and what he terms “spiritual content” — values-driven innovation that benefits society. “Our goal is to build the biggest tech solution company in Africa, and women will be central to that story. It’s time Africa stopped being a consumer and started creating at scale,” Ekeh stated.
The Zinox Group’s initiative has already begun to make an impact beyond its own operations, with many alumni now holding leadership roles in multinational corporations. As the continent races to secure its place in the global digital economy, industry observers say this move may set a new benchmark for inclusive growth in African tech.
