Tech: Microsoft Shuts Down Africa Development Centre In Nigeria

Tech giant, Microsoft, is closing down its Africa Development Centre in the continent’s most populous nation Nigeria, which will lead to job losses, a spokesperson said on Wednesday.

In May 2019, Microsoft announced plans to establish the Africa Development Center (ADC) in Nigeria and Kenya, with the mission of creating innovative technology not just for Africa, but for the entire world.

Afterwards, there was a call for talented engineers to work on Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Mixed Reality, with the company committing to investing 100 million US dollars in the first five years of operation.

In March 2022, it launched the centre in Nigeria, citing it in a $70 million edifice in Ikoyi, Lagos, known as Kings Towers.The structure is part of the over $200 million it announced to have expended to put up the African Development Center.

The centre, based in the commercial capital Lagos was opened in 2022 as part of Microsoft’s push to deliver high-end engineering and innovation solutions for the company.The company said it would, however, continue to operate in Nigeria, continuing to prioritize and invest in strategic growth areas.

“Microsoft has decided to close the Africa Development Centre in Nigeria, and as a result some of our employees based in Nigeria will be impacted,” the Microsoft spokesperson said.

“Organizational and workforce adjustments are a necessary and regular part of managing our business.”It was not immediately clear how many people would be impacted.

In December 2022, Microsoft President Brad Smith said Africa represented a burgeoning talent pool in contrast to declining population growth elsewhere. Microsoft at that time had more than 200 engineers in Lagos and more than 500 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The centre has over 200 engineers who are mainly Nigerians, producing wave making digital solutions touted to have the capability of changing the African narrative.