Industry insiders have revealed to The Guardian that Microsoft’s African Development Centre (ADC) in West Africa, situated in Lagos, Nigeria, may be shutting down. Although there’s been no official statement from Microsoft yet, the management reportedly informed staff of the sudden development on Monday.
Affected employees might receive their salaries until June and retain their Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), according to sources. When contacted, a source within Microsoft’s Lagos office neither confirmed nor denied the development.
While the immediate cause remains unclear, industry sources suggest it might be due to Nigeria’s current economic situation. Notably, the ADC in East Africa, located in Nairobi, Kenya, is reportedly unaffected.
Launched in Nigeria in 2022 as part of Microsoft’s $100 million investment for two development centres in Africa, the ADC aimed to hire 500 full-time engineers by 2023. However, since its launch, it has reportedly exceeded this target, employing over 500 engineers and 200 total employees in Nigeria.
Commissioned by former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isah Pantami, and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the ADC aimed to create tech solutions addressing African and global challenges.
The closure, if confirmed, would mark the end of an initiative that sought to empower African engineers to build innovative solutions with global impact. Additionally, the ADC facility in Lagos housed the Microsoft Garage, aimed at scaling innovation in the tech ecosystem across Africa.
