The Federal University Birnin Kebbi (FUB) has received a major boost in its mission to produce globally competitive graduates, thanks to a generous donation from the Leo Stan Ekeh Foundation (LSEF).
The foundation has provided a state-of-the-art Tech Experience Centre, a multimillion-naira facility designed to equip students and staff with the essential digital skills needed for success in today’s world.
The center, commissioned on behalf of Mr. Leo Stan Ekeh, the founder of LSEF and Chairman of Zinox Group, by the President of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Dr. Muhammad Sirajo Aliyu, is outfitted with the latest Zinox computers.
It is powered by an iPower renewable energy suite, featuring high-performance solar panels and certified lithium batteries. Additionally, the facility is connected to a 24-hour, non-disruptive satellite internet service via Starlink, with LSEF committing to cover the service costs for the next five years.
Mr. Ekeh emphasized that the Tech Experience Centre is dedicated to preparing FUB students and knowledge workers with the resources needed to compete globally and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s economic development. This initiative is part of a larger effort by LSEF, which has donated several similar technology hubs to tertiary institutions across Nigeria, aligning with the Federal Government’s vision to upgrade the nation’s higher education system.
For over 25 years, Mr. Ekeh and the Zinox Group have been consistent investors in digital education, providing tech laboratories and innovation hubs. Recent donations include centers at St. Augustine University, Lagos, and Imo State University. Looking ahead, the foundation plans to extend these interventions to secondary schools nationwide. Mr. Ekeh called on politicians, government agencies, and affluent Nigerians to invest in the education sector, stating that a well-educated populace is the cornerstone of national development.
In his appreciation speech, FUB’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Muhammad Zaiyan Umar, lauded the donation. “This Tech Experience Centre will make a remarkable difference in the academic and research output of our students and staff. We are grateful for Mr. Ekeh’s vision and generosity; this facility is more than a building with computers; it is an investment in the future of our graduates and the growth of our nation.”
Mr. Ekeh also shared his concerns about the funding deficits facing many educational institutions and proposed solutions. He recommended that the Federal Government adopt a college system, reclassify existing universities, and grant approvals for specialized professional colleges affiliated with reputable universities. He emphasized that the quality of an institution’s academic content is more important than its physical size, and that educational institutions should be regulated even more stringently than banks.
“Educational institutions are not limited liability companies that can be liquidated at will,” Ekeh stated. “Their true profit is not in short-term returns but in the quality of graduates they produce, men and women who can lead this nation and give back to the institutions that shaped them.”
This donation to FUB is the latest in a long history of interventions by the Zinox Group and LSEF, which has also provided thousands of scholarships, funded modern digital learning facilities, and supported budding entrepreneurs with non-interest loans.