Abstract

The case discusses how Funke Opeke, founder and CEO of MainOne, helped the company become a leading provider of innovative telecom services and network solutions in West Africa. The case focuses on her major decision to build a digital ecosystem in Nigeria and how she helped fund a $240-million-dollar project to build West Africa’s first privately owned, open access undersea high capacity cable submarine in 2010 The case then describes Opeke’s focus on last-mile infrastructure development. By 2019, MainOne had added 2,700 kilometers of fiber optic coverage in Lagos. Her efforts led to the growth of the digital economy in Nigeria. The local population had greater access to the internet and the improved connectivity led to over 200 companies becoming MainOne’s clients. MainOne actively engaged with schools in the areas where it conducted business and assisted initiatives to enhance educational outcomes. By February 2023, MainOne had become a leading West African data center and connectivity solutions provider with a presence in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire. MainOne planned to invest more than USD5.4 billion over the period 2022-2025 to build fiber optic infrastructure for broadband services throughout Lagos. Can Opeke sustain the company’s growth post acquisition and help other African countries leverage the benefits of a digital economy.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the need to build a digital ecosystem in Africa
• Identify the need for timely decision-making by company leaders
• Understand strategic leadership best practices
• Discuss adoption of technology in developing nations
• Recognize the role of women leaders in STEM sectors

Keywords

Leadership; Strategic Leadership; Decision-Making; Digital Infrastructure development; Women leaders; Adoption of technology; Leadership Traits; Digital Ecosystem; Digital Economy