Funke Opeke is the founder of Main Street Technologies and CEO of Mainone Cable, a communications services company. She attended Obafemi Awolowo University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronic & Electrical Engineering, followed by a Masters degree at Columbia University in Electrical Engineering.After which she pursued a career in ICT in the United States. She was once the Executive Director of the Wholesale division of Verizon Communications in New York.
She returned home, Nigeria, to tackle ICT problems starting with an attempt to revitalize Nitel, which at that time was Nigeria’s incumbent fixed and mobile operator. The attempt didn’t yield much except birthing the idea to create a cable company when she saw the absence of submarine cables.
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. Although the company at that time was to be built over a 2-year period, from inception to launch, with a total investment of US$240 million, Funmi Opeke had to seek investors, both global and local, to help make the dream a reality.
One of the things that kept her going in the midst of challenges was her determination to keep moving forward with the idea. There was no going back for her. So she became relentless in engaging more persons who could help fill the financing needs that the company needed. Often times, Funke came across persons who doubted the success of such a business in Nigeria but she didn’t let that stop her. She was never bothered about the glaring truth that she was a woman in a business path that was dominated by men. She kept her focus and ran with her dreams.
Today, Main One cable has succeeded in signing over 100 customers across Africa. The cable company has landing points in Portugal, Ghana and Nigeria and branching units in Morocco, Canary Islands, Senegal and Ivory Coast. Funke Opeke believes that if everyone can think about how they can utilize the opportunities and the assets that they have to generate value then they would be successful in any business.
Source: Woman.ng