Funke Opeke

Funke Opeke is a distinguished Nigerian telecommunications executive, engineer, and entrepreneur, widely recognized as one of Africa's leading figures in technology infrastructure. She is best known as the founder of MainOne (Main Street Technologies), a premier provider of communications services and network solutions in West Africa. Her career has centered on improving internet access and digital infrastructure across Nigeria and the wider African continent.Early Life and Education Funke Opeke was born around 1961 in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. She pursued her tertiary education at the University of Ìfẹ́ (now Obafemi Awolowo University), where she studied Electrical Engineering. She then continued her studies in the United States, earning a master's degree from Columbia University.Career Progression Opeke began her career in the United States, working in the telecommunications sector for over twenty years before returning to Nigeria in 2005. Upon her return, she joined MTN Nigeria, where she served as the Chief Technical Officer (CTO). Following her tenure at MTN, she held advisory and executive positions, including a brief period as the Chief Operating Officer of NITEL. In 2008, Opeke founded Main Street Technologies, the developer of the MainOne cable system. She launched the $240 million MainOne submarine cable in 2010, which ran from Portugal to West Africa, dramatically improving broadband connectivity and capacity in the region. She served as the Founder and CEO of MainOne (Telecommunications & Network Solutions), successfully leading the company through its expansion to provide digital infrastructure, including data centers, across West Africa. In 2022, MainOne was acquired by Equinix, a US-based digital infrastructure company. Following the acquisition, Opeke served as the Managing Director of MainOne, an Equinix company, overseeing business operations and post-acquisition integration.Major Achievements and Notable Works Opeke's primary notable work is the foundation and scaling of MainOne, which has been instrumental in the growth of the technology industry in Nigeria and has helped facilitate the expansion of internet access across West Africa. Her work is often cited as a key example of innovating context-specific processes and deployment methodologies to bring established global practices to emerging markets. Her contributions have garnered significant recognition, including: * **2012:** CNBC All Africa Businesswoman of the Year * **2013:** Named one of Africa's Most Powerful Women In Technology * **2018:** Included on the Forbes list of The World's Top 50 Women In Tech * **2022:** Recognized with the Nigerian national honor, Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON)Current Status As of 2024, Funke Opeke is actively engaged in leadership and advisory roles. She serves as a trustee for the Shell Foundation and chairs the Co-Creation Hub Innovation Center. She was also named a 2026 Fellow at the Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative (ALI), where she focuses on leveraging her extensive experience in technology and infrastructure.