In a significant move impacting Nigeria’s tech sector, reports indicate that Microsoft is contemplating the closure of its African Development Centre situated in Lagos.
If finalized, this decision could have far-reaching consequences for the country’s technological landscape, potentially affecting job prospects and innovation within the industry.
According to insiders cited by The Guardian, Microsoft employees were notified of the closure plans earlier this week.
Reportedly, affected staff members will receive salary payments until June and maintain health insurance coverage during the transition period.
However, Microsoft’s Lagos office declined to confirm or deny the closure when approached by the newspaper.
While the exact reasons behind the potential closure remain unclear, sources speculate that Nigeria’s challenging economic climate may have influenced the decision.
In 2019, Microsoft launched its African Development Centers initiative with a $100 million investment, establishing facilities in Lagos and Nairobi.
The Lagos center, inaugurated in 2022, initially employed over 120 engineers and expanded to more than 200 employees.
Gafar Lawal, Managing Director of Microsoft ADC West Africa, previously expressed optimism about the abundance of talent in Africa, aiming to recruit 500 full-time engineers by 2023.
The Lagos Centre was established to develop innovative technology solutions addressing challenges both locally and globally, offering engineers the opportunity to contribute meaningfully from their home countries while being connected to a global engineering and development organization, as stated in a Microsoft statement.
