Funke Opeke
2026 ALI Fellow

Funke Opeke brings to ALI a distinguished career in telecommunications and technology infrastructure across Africa and beyond. She most recently served as managing director of MainOne, an Equinix company, where she oversaw business operations and post-acquisition integration. Funke founded MainOne, a telecommunications and internet infrastructure company, and led it from inception, securing investment to build West Africa’s first private submarine cable system, significantly expanding internet access and digital innovation across the region. Under her leadership, the company grew to serve multiple countries. Earlier in her career, Funke held executive roles at NITEL, MTN Nigeria, and Verizon Communications, managing large-scale network operations and strategic business initiatives.

Beyond her corporate achievements, Funke has played a vital role in shaping national broadband policy, chairing Nigeria’s National Broadband Committee. She serves as a trustee for the Shell Foundation and chairs the Co-Creation Hub Innovation Center. Recognized with Nigeria’s national honor of Member of the Order of the Niger, Funke as also been named to Forbes’ World’s Top 50 Women in Tech.