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Funke Opeke Steps Down from MainOne

November 5, 2024

Funke Opeke steps down from MainOne as Equinix drives future strategy TechCabal reports. She is being replaced by Wole Abu, the CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Nigeria.

MainOne, acquired by Equinix for $320 million in 2022, marked the U.S. data giant’s entry into West Africa. Equinix plans to expand with new data centres in Nigeria and potentially broader African investments.

Funke Opeke, Founder and CEO of MainOne, has stepped down from her role at the Nigerian internet connectivity giant, capping an impactful 14-year tenure that positioned MainOne as a key player in West Africa’s digital transformation.

Her departure follows MainOne’s full integration with Equinix, which acquired the company in 2022 for $320 million — a move that extended Equinix’s global footprint into Africa’s growing tech ecosystem.

Opeke’s exit underscores the next chapter for MainOne as Equinix leverages the company’s infrastructure and reputation to expand across Africa. Equinix aims to boost its service capacity in West Africa, building on MainOne’s extensive submarine cable and data centre infrastructure, which includes MDXi, one of Nigeria’s most secure and advanced data centres.

A milestone in African connectivity

MainOne’s history is deeply intertwined with the development of Nigeria’s digital landscape. Founded by Opeke in 2010, MainOne launched a landmark submarine cable that significantly enhanced internet capacity in West Africa, addressing the region’s longstanding connectivity challenges.

The company quickly grew, becoming a trusted provider of broadband services to governments, enterprises, and ISPs across Nigeria and beyond. Under Opeke’s leadership, MainOne was instrumental in driving digital inclusion and supporting the continent’s burgeoning tech industry.

Following Equinix’s acquisition, MainOne has continued to operate under its established brand, now as “MainOne, Solutions by Equinix.”

This partnership has allowed MainOne access to Equinix’s global infrastructure and expertise, aligning both companies’ ambitions to scale data services and connectivity solutions across the continent.

Equinix has already announced significant investments, including plans to establish additional data centres in Victoria Island, Lekki, and Port Harcourt by 2026.

This expanded infrastructure is anticipated to meet West Africa’s increasing demand for data solutions, driven by rapid digital adoption across sectors like finance, media, and government.

Equinix’s strategic ambitions in Africa

Equinix’s acquisition of MainOne is part of its broader strategy to tap into Africa’s growing digital market. The company has actively pursued new markets worldwide, including recent investments in Canada and India, underscoring its mission to support enterprises with reliable data infrastructure in underserved regions.

For Equinix, Africa represents a high-potential region where internet penetration and digital needs are growing, yet infrastructure lags. Nigeria, the continent’s largest economy, serves as a strategic entry point for Equinix’s ambitions to support Africa’s digital infrastructure on a larger scale.

As Equinix integrates its corporate practices with MainOne’s operations, it brings a heightened focus on data security, operational resilience, and energy management — factors crucial in Africa, where unreliable power grids and complex regulatory environments are common.

Equinix’s expansion into data centres around Nigeria’s major economic hubs is expected to attract global enterprises, including content providers and cloud service giants, who need secure and scalable digital platforms to serve African customers.

Additionally, Equinix’s potential entry into other African countries could pave the way for a continental network of high-performance data centres.

The future without Funke Opeke

Wole Abu steps in as managing director of its West Africa business and replaces Opeke, whose resignation marks a significant transition for MainOne.

Known for her resilience and vision, Opeke transformed a regional challenge — Africa’s digital divide — into an opportunity for growth and connectivity. Her work has inspired a generation of African tech entrepreneurs and significantly boosted digital access and infrastructure in the region.

Although her departure signals the end of an era, her legacy as a leader committed to advancing Africa’s digital economy. With Equinix now steering MainOne’s next phase, the company is well-positioned to harness its new capabilities and broader resources for continued growth in Africa’s digital services sector.

The focus on expanding infrastructure, combined with Equinix’s expertise, could provide MainOne with the support needed to scale in response to West Africa’s escalating digital demand.

Equinix’s presence in Nigeria could thus set a new standard in the region’s tech infrastructure landscape, enabling MainOne to play an even larger role in shaping Africa’s digital future.

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