Equinix buys Funke Opeke’s MainOne For $320 Million by Kola Olaniran.
The digital giant Equinix has announced its conclusion to buy Mrs Funke Opeke’s MainOne for $320 million (177 billion Naira).
In his word, Charles Meyers, the president and CEO of Equinix says “the acquisition of MainOne will represent a critical point of entry for Platform Equinix into the expansive and rapidly growing African market. MainOne’s leading interconnection position and experienced management team represent critical assets in our aspirations to be the leading neutral provider of digital infrastructure in Africa,”
“MainOne’s infrastructure, customer relationships, partner ecosystem and operating capability will extend the reach of Platform Equinix and bolster opportunities for customers in Africa and throughout the world.”
MainOne CEO Funke Opeke and the company’s management team will still continue to serve in their respective roles after the acquisition is finalized.”
According to Wikipedia,
“After moving back to Nigeria, Funke Opeke started MainOne in 2008, when she noticed the poor internet connectivity in Nigeria. MainOne is West Africa's leading communication services and network solutions provider. The company built West Africa's first privately owned, open access 7,000-kilometer undersea high capacity cable submarine stretching from Portugal to West Africa with landings along the route in Accra (Ghana), Dakar (Senegal) in 2019, Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) in 2019 and Lagos (Nigeria). Her desire to add value to her home country birthed Africa's biggest cable company. After pledging all her savings, facing more challenges of raising capital for the start-up cable business, carrying out in-depth foundational works, feasibility studies, business plans, and technical plans, Main One Cable Company become more tangible. In 2015, her company started operations of MDXi reputed to be Nigeria's largest Tier III Data Center, also extending a submarine cable from Lagos into Cameroon. Her achievements are a source of inspiration to many. Funke is the inventor of Mainstreet Technologies, the developer of MainOne cable, a leading provider of network solutions in West Africa.
Funke was born in Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, she had her secondary school education in Ibadan and graduated with Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria before she moved to the United States.
She later graduated from The Columbia University in New York City, New York.
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