In a major milestone in the African IT sector, MainOne’s parent company, Equinix Inc, has named Wole Abu its new Managing Director. This comes after the West African business completed the $320 million purchase of MainOne in Nigeria, which was initially announced in 2022.
Mr Abu will succeed Funke Opeke as Equinix’s Managing Director for West Africa, MainOne on Tuesday confirmed on its website.
In this role, Mr Abu will oversee the company’s digital infrastructure expansion across the region, leading efforts to enhance connectivity and support growth in West Africa.
Ms Opeke, albeit stepping down as MD, will serve in advisory capacity until March 2026.
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Equinix announced that Mr Abu will oversee its operations in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. The company acquired MainOne for $320 million in December 2021. Having established MainOne’s strong presence across these three countries, Equinix views this acquisition as its gateway into the African market.
Pioneering Growth: Equinix’s New Era in Africa
Wole’s appointment as Managing Director for Equinix’s West African business follows shortly after the opening of Equinix’s newest data center in Johannesburg and in his role, he will oversee the Equinix business in West Africa, work closely with both local businesses and multinational companies to build on the strong foundations for connectivity and growth in the region bringing the opportunity of Equinix to the West African region, the company said.
Before his current role, Abu served as CEO for Liquid Intelligent Technologies Nigeria and Africa Data Centre, where he was responsible for leading digital infrastructure initiatives across Nigeria and beyond.
With more than two decades of expertise in the Nigerian telecom sector, Wole is an experienced leader.
Abu is creative, strategic, and ethical in business and governance. Abu aspires to alter Nigeria’s telecom industry with his passion, leadership, and drive.
His previous experience also includes senior roles with Airtel and Pan African Towers, where he gained extensive expertise in telecommunications and infrastructure development across Africa. These roles provided him with a deep understanding of the industry’s complexities and the needs of businesses seeking advanced connectivity solutions throughout the continent.
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“I’m excited to be joining Equinix, as we share a common vision for expanding digital infrastructure across Africa,” Abu said in a statement provided by Equinix.
“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. I’m eager to contribute to this transformative work and help create a more connected, accessible digital landscape throughout Africa.”
Regarding Abu’s appointment, Equinix’s vice president for Growth and Emerging Markets, Judith Gardiner, said, “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.”
