Funke Opeke, the Founder and CEO of MainOne, has decided to step down from her position at the Nigerian internet connectivity giant. This move comes after MainOne was fully integrated under Equinix, the U.S. data giant that acquired the company for $320 million in 2022. As a result, Wole Abu, the CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies Nigeria, will be taking over as the new CEO of MainOne.
MainOne has played a significant role in shaping the digital landscape in West Africa, particularly in Nigeria. Established by Opeke in 2010, MainOne introduced a groundbreaking submarine cable that greatly improved internet capacity in the region, addressing long-standing connectivity issues. Over the years, MainOne has become a trusted provider of broadband services to governments, businesses, and ISPs in Nigeria and beyond, under Opeke’s visionary leadership.
Following the acquisition by Equinix, MainOne continues to operate under its original brand, now known as “MainOne, Solutions by Equinix.” This partnership allows MainOne to leverage Equinix’s global infrastructure and expertise, aligning both companies’ goals to expand data services and connectivity solutions across Africa. Equinix has already announced plans to establish new data centers in key Nigerian cities by 2026, catering to the growing demand for data solutions driven by increased digital adoption in various sectors.
Equinix’s acquisition of MainOne is part of its strategic focus on tapping into Africa’s expanding digital market. With recent investments in other regions like Canada and India, Equinix aims to provide reliable data infrastructure to underserved areas. Africa, with its rising internet penetration and digital requirements, presents a promising opportunity for Equinix. Nigeria, as the continent’s largest economy, serves as a strategic gateway for Equinix to support digital infrastructure development on a larger scale in Africa.
As Equinix integrates its operations with MainOne, the company emphasizes data security, operational resilience, and energy management, essential factors in Africa’s context where power reliability and regulatory challenges are prevalent. The expansion of Equinix’s data centers in Nigeria is expected to attract global enterprises seeking secure and scalable digital platforms to serve African customers. Furthermore, Equinix’s potential expansion into other African countries could pave the way for a network of high-performance data centers across the continent.
With Wole Abu taking the helm at MainOne, the company is poised to leverage its enhanced capabilities and resources for further growth in Africa’s digital services sector. The focus on expanding infrastructure, coupled with Equinix’s expertise, positions MainOne to meet the increasing digital demands in West Africa effectively. Equinix’s presence in Nigeria sets a new benchmark in the region’s tech infrastructure landscape, enabling MainOne to play a pivotal role in shaping Africa’s digital future.