Opeke appoinnted advisor as Equinix completes $320 million MainOne acquisition

Equinix Inc. has announced the appointment of Wole Abu as its Managing Director in West Africa to lead the integration and expansion of the business. This follows the completion of its acquisition of MainOne in Nigeria, in a $320 million deal first announced in 2022.

Recall that Funke Opeke, who founded MainOne in 2008, stepped down as the chief executive officer but will remain a strategic advisor to the company in the West African region through March 2026.

According to statement on MainOne website dated November 5, 2024, Opeke has been replaced by Wole Abu, who will become Equinix’s managing director in West Africa and lead the expansion of digital infrastructure in the region.

According to the company, Wole will oversee the Equinix business in Nigeria, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire. Equinix Incorporated announced in 2021 that it was acquiring MainOne in a $320 million deal. According to the company, this was its way of expanding into Africa since MainOne had a presence in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.

The company has now completed a post-acquisition integration, which began in 2022, with MainOne staff getting salary raises. The company operates two data centres in Lagos, now fully controlled by Equinix, and intends to launch three major data centre projects and extend its fibre capacity.

Abu, the CEO of Liquid Intelligent Technologies before his new role, has now been tasked with leading Equinix’s key local engagements in the country. Abu said, “I’m excited to be joining Equinix, as we share a common vision for expanding digital infrastructure across Africa. 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.”

Commenting on Abu’s appointment, Judith Gardiner, vice president for Growth and Emerging Markets at Equinix stated, “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.”