MainOne CEO Funke Opeke resigns
Funke Opeke has stepped down as MainOne's Managing Director for West Africa, just weeks after the internet connectivity provider completed its post-acquisition integration with Equinix.Opeke, who founded MainOne in 2008, will serve as a strategic advisor for the West African region until March 2026.
Wole Abu, the current CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Nigeria, will succeed Opeke, according to multiple insiders. Abu has previously held key positions such as CEO of Pan African Towers and Vice President of Sales at Airtel Nigeria.
Abu's new role will involve expanding MainOne's internet service provision and data center operations. Equinix is reportedly planning to launch three major data center projects and expand its fiber capacity.
The integration process, which began in 2022, ensures that MainOne, which is now part of Equinix Solutions, maintains its brand identity. The company currently operates two data centers in Lagos, which are now fully owned by Equinix.
This leadership change represents a significant shift for MainOne, Nigeria's leading internet connectivity provider, which serves major banks and telecommunications companies. Equinix acquired MainOne for $320 million in April 2022, making it one of the largest exits in Africa's tech ecosystem.
Opeke was named Managing Director of MainOne for West Africa following Equinix's acquisition. She had been the company's CEO for over a decade, leading its expansion since 2010, when it launched the first private submarine cable on Africa's West Coast.
Under her leadership, MainOne laid a 27-kilometer fiber optic cable in 2013 to cover Lagos' Yaba district, also known as Nigeria's Silicon Valley.
This infrastructure development attracted a large number of startups to the region and helped to nurture Nigeria's tech ecosystem, benefiting companies such as Andela, CcHUB, Paga, Hotelsng, and Flutterwave.
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