Funke Opeke is a Nigerian electrical engineer and telecommunications executive whose career has been closely associated with the development of broadband infrastructure and digital connectivity in Africa. As the founder of MainOne, she built one of West Africa’s notable telecommunications infrastructure companies, establishing a submarine cable network that connected the region more directly to global internet infrastructure.
Born in 1961 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, Opeke grew up in a large family and developed an educational and professional foundation in engineering. She attended Queen’s School in Ibadan before studying electrical engineering at the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University. She later earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Columbia University in the United States.
Building a Career in Telecommunications
After completing her studies in the United States, Opeke began her career in the information and communications technology sector. She worked as an executive director with the wholesale division of Verizon in New York City, gaining experience in the telecommunications industry before returning to Nigeria.
In 2005, she joined MTN Nigeria, where she served as Chief Technical Officer. She subsequently worked as an adviser at Transcorp and briefly served as Chief Operating Officer of NITEL. These roles gave her experience across different areas of Nigeria’s telecommunications and technology ecosystem.
Her professional journey eventually led to one of the defining chapters of her career: the creation of MainOne.
Founding MainOne
In 2008, Opeke founded MainOne after returning to Nigeria, with the company established to address limitations in internet connectivity across the country and the wider West African region.
One of MainOne’s most significant infrastructure projects was its submarine cable network, which extended approximately 7,000 kilometres from Portugal to West Africa, with landing stations in Nigeria, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.
The company subsequently expanded its infrastructure footprint. In 2015, MainOne began operating a Tier III data centre and extended its submarine cable infrastructure from Lagos to Cameroon.
Through this infrastructure, MainOne became part of the broader effort to strengthen West Africa’s connection to international digital networks and support the growing demand for internet and data services across the region.
From Entrepreneur to Industry Leader
Opeke’s leadership of MainOne positioned her as one of the prominent women in Africa’s technology and telecommunications sector.
Her work attracted international attention, with recognition from business and technology organisations over the years. Among her distinctions were the CNBC All Africa Businesswoman of the Year award in 2012 and recognition as one of Africa’s Most Powerful Women in Technology in 2013. In 2018, she was included on Forbes’ list of The World’s Top 50 Women in Tech.
Her contribution to Nigeria’s business and technology landscape was also recognised nationally. In 2022, she was conferred with the Nigerian national honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
MainOne’s Acquisition by Equinix
Another major milestone in Opeke’s career came when global digital infrastructure company Equinix announced an agreement in December 2021 to acquire MainOne at an enterprise value of US$320 million.
The transaction was completed on 5 April 2022, after which Opeke continued to lead the business under the name MainOne, an Equinix company.
Opeke remained involved in the business until November 2024, when she stepped down from her leadership position and subsequently became a strategic adviser to the company.
A Career Built Around Digital Infrastructure
Funke Opeke’s professional story reflects the evolution of Nigeria’s telecommunications industry from a relatively constrained connectivity environment into a more interconnected digital economy.
Her engineering background, international telecommunications experience and decision to return to Nigeria positioned her to participate directly in addressing one of the country’s fundamental technology infrastructure challenges.
Rather than focusing solely on consumer-facing technology, her work centred on the underlying infrastructure required for digital services to function: submarine connectivity, data centres and telecommunications networks.
That infrastructure has become increasingly important as businesses, governments, financial institutions, educational organisations and individuals across Africa have become more dependent on reliable internet and data services.
Recognition and Legacy
Over the course of her career, Opeke has received recognition from business, technology and public institutions.
Her documented honours include:
- CNBC All Africa Businesswoman of the Year — 2012
- Africa’s Most Powerful Women in Technology — 2013
- Forbes’ World’s Top 50 Women in Tech — 2018
- Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) — 2022
Her career has also made her a notable figure in discussions about African telecommunications, engineering and the development of digital infrastructure.
From her early career in the United States to senior positions within Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, and ultimately to founding and leading MainOne, Funke Opeke has built a career around one central theme: expanding the infrastructure that enables Africa to participate more fully in the digital economy.
Today, her name remains associated with one of the significant infrastructure stories in West Africa’s technology sector—the effort to build stronger connections between Africa and the global digital network.
Funke Opeke’s story is, ultimately, a story of engineering, infrastructure and entrepreneurship: using technical expertise to build systems designed to support the next generation of digital growth in Africa.