Microsoft is reportedly considering the closure of its African Development Centre (ADC) in Lagos State.
This development comes as a shock to the employees and the broader technology community in Nigeria.
Microsoft ADC Lagos was inaugurated in 2019 under a significant $100 million initiative to foster local tech talent and innovation.
It was aimed at recruiting hundreds of engineers to develop solutions in sectors like fintech, agritech, and off-grid energy.
According to industry insiders who spoke to The Guardian newspaper on Tuesday, Microsoft informed staff on Monday of the closure plans.
Though, the affected staff might be paid their salaries till June and their HMOs.
This move, if confirmed, would have huge implications for the country’s technological landscape, potentially impacting job opportunities and innovation in the sector.
While the actual motives behind the decision remain unclear, sources suggest Nigeria’s bad economic conditions likely played a role.
Meanwhile, the closure appears to affect only the ADC’s West Africa operations in Nigeria, not its East Africa facility in Nairobi, Kenya.
