CEO Today Africa Awards

www.ceotodaymagazine.com 42 CEO Today Africa Awards 2018 NIGERIA FUNKE OPEKE CEO of MainOne COMPANY PROFILE “MainOne” also known as “Main One Cable” or “Main One” is a leading provider of innovative telecom services and network solutions for businesses in West Africa. Since its launch in 2010, MainOne has developed a reputation for highly reliable services to become the preferred provider of wholesale Internet services to major telecom operators, ISPs, government agencies, large enterprises, and educational institutions in West Africa. MainOne’s world class submarine cable system running down the coast of West Africa, state of the art IP NGN network, growing regional and metro terrestrial fiber optic networks, and data center facilities enable broadband services for businesses needing online connectivity solutions in West Africa. Our network is interconnected and peers with leading operators and internet exchanges worldwide to provide global reach to our customers. Corporate Social Responsibility MainOne prides itself on being a relevant and integral member of its host communities. As a socially responsible organization, we believe being part of these communities brings with it the responsibility to support them as well. MainOne operates a Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative called MainOne Connects, which focuses on education, the natural environment, and driving broadband penetration across Africa. EDUCATION MainOne actively engages with schools in its operational areas to provide support towards better educational outcomes. In local communities in Lekki where it operates its cable system, the company has renovated, provided furniture and books to primary schools. The company in a partnership with Lagos State Government has also pre-wired all educational institutions in Yaba District for Internet Connectivity. MainOne has also subsidized broadband capacity to over 13 tertiary institutions including the University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University, among others. In Ghana, MainOne is also supporting tertiary institutions with Connectivity including Regional Maritime University andAll Nations University, among others. INNOVATION IN ICT By providing connectivity support for Innovation in ICT, MainOne will accelerate capacity building to help Africans develop skills for entrepreneurship and improved employability and global competitiveness. As a leading communications Services Company, MainOne has remained a staunch supporter of innovation and development of indigenous solutions. This thrust backed its support, from inception, of the reputable thinktanks, Andela and Co-Creation Hub, and its position as lead sponsor of the ISPON Software Innovation Cup. In Ghana, MainOne supports Hackers Space at the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Center of Excellence in ICT. Our goal is to empower every African who has a great idea for a business to turn that idea into a reality which in turn can help our community, country and continent as a whole. ABOUT FUNKE OPEKE Ms. Funke Opeke, is founder and CEO of MainOne, formerly Main One Cable Company. MainOne is West Africa’s leading communications services and network solutions provider that built West Africa’s first privately owned, open access 7,000 kilometer undersea high capacity cable submarine, a $240 million dollar project that was completed in time and on budget in 2010. MainOne also built West Africa’s largest Tier III Data Center, MDX-i’s Lekki Data Center, a $40 million investment with a capacity for 600 racks. Ms. Opeke is an experienced telecommunications executive who returned to Nigeria in 2005 as the Chief Technical Officer of MTN after a twenty-year career in the United States. Prior to her return, she was the Executive Director of Verizon Communications Wholesale Division. Subsequent to MTN, Ms. Opeke advised Transcorp on the acquisition of NITEL and briefly served as the interim Chief Operating Officer, post-acquisition of NITEL. She obtained a first degree in Electrical Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Nigeria and a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University, New York. www.mainone.net