Funke Opeke MainOne CEO resigns

Funke Opeke has stepped down as Managing Director of MainOne for West Africa just weeks after the internet connectivity provider completed its post-acquisition integration with Equinix.

Opeke, who founded MainOne in 2008, will assume a strategic advisory role for the West African region until March 2026.

Wole Abu, currently the CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Nigeria, will succeed Opeke, according to multiple insiders. Abu has previously held significant positions as CEO of Pan African Towers and Vice President of Sales at Airtel Nigeria.

In his new role, Abu will focus on expanding MainOne’s internet service provision and data center operations. Equinix is reportedly planning to launch three major data center projects and enhance its fiber capacity.

The integration process, which began in 2022, ensures that MainOne, now part of Solutions by Equinix, retains its brand identity. The company currently operates two data centers in Lagos, now fully controlled by Equinix.

This leadership change marks a significant transition for MainOne, Nigeria’s leading internet connectivity provider, which counts major banks and telecommunications companies among its clients. In April 2022, Equinix acquired MainOne in a landmark deal valued at $320 million, one of the largest exits in Africa’s tech ecosystem.

Opeke was appointed Managing Director of MainOne for West Africa following Equinix’s acquisition. She had been the company’s CEO for over a decade, guiding its growth since 2010, when it launched the first private submarine cable on the West Coast of Africa.

Under her leadership, MainOne laid a 27-kilometer fiber optic cable in 2013 to cover the Yaba area of Lagos, known as Nigeria’s Silicon Valley.

This infrastructure development attracted numerous startups to the region and played a vital role in nurturing Nigeria’s tech ecosystem, benefiting companies like Andela, CcHUB, Paga, Hotelsng, and Flutterwave.