Wole Abu appointed MD of MainOne West Africa as Funke Opeke resigns

Funke Opeke, founder of MainOne, has resigned as the chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director of the firm.

The development comes two weeks after the firm finalised its post-acquisition integration with Equinix Inc., a digital infrastructure company.

In 2022, Equinix Inc. announced that it had completed a deal to acquire MainOne, a West African data centre and connectivity solutions provider, for $320 million.

Speaking on her resignation in a statement on Tuesday, Equinix said Opeke will be replaced by Wole Abu as the new managing director in West Africa and lead the expansion of digital infrastructure in the region.

According to the organisation, Abu will oversee the Equinix business in Nigeria, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire; while Opeke will remain a strategic advisor for the company in the West African region through March 2026.

“Wole is a seasoned professional with over 20 years’ experience in the Nigerian Telecoms Industry,” the statement reads.

“He joins Equinix from Liquid Intelligent Technologies where he held the position of CEO for Nigeria and Africa Data Centre (ADC). 

“As well as driving business success, Wole is passionate about driving societal and social change through technology and is focused on driving a successful strategy for connectivity and digital access in West Africa.

“Wole will also lead Equinix’s key local engagements to make a meaningful impact to society through the support of initiatives focused on education, sustainability, and the betterment of society as well as driving the vital environmental and community initiatives so crucial to the sustainable goals and vision of Equinix.”

Speaking on the appointment, Judith Gardiner, vice-president for growth and emerging markets at Equinix, said Abu’s expertise will help the company expand its reach.

“We are delighted to have Wole join Equinix as the leader driving our operations in West Africa,” Gardiner said.

“With his expertise, we will support local businesses and multinational companies in expanding into Africa and beyond through Equinix. 

“This marks a significant milestone for Equinix as we continue to develop our presence in Africa, establishing crucial strategic data hubs, accelerating digital technology development, supporting our customers, and contributing to the continent’s immense growth potential through robust digital infrastructure.”

On his part, Abu expressed eagerness to contribute to Equinix’s transformative work and help create a more connected, accessible digital landscape throughout Africa.

“I’m excited to be joining Equinix, as we share a common vision for expanding digital infrastructure across Africa,” he said.

“This mission is crucial for bringing life-enhancing services to the region and bridging the digital divide. By empowering both enterprises and individuals, we’re enabling broader participation in the global digital economy.”

Equinix also said Wole’s appointment as managing director for West African business follows shortly after the opening of its newest data center in Johannesburg.