Microsoft is reportedly planning to close its African Development Centre (ADC) in Lagos. This development comes as a shock to the employees and the broader technology community in Nigeria.
The management reportedly informed the staff of the sudden development on Monday 6th May. According to sources from Microsoft ADC Nigeria, the affected staff might be paid their salaries till June and their HMOs.
Microsoft ADC Lagos was inaugurated in 2022 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.
During its launch in 2022, Lagos ADC boasted over 200 staff members, including 120 engineers, with ambitions to expand further.
The news from Lagos has raised concerns among the staff at the Nairobi ADC, who are reportedly anxious and seeking clarity about the future of their own positions. Speculation about the Lagos closure has sparked fears that the Nairobi center might also face challenges, despite its recent relocation to a new, ultra-modern facility.
Microsoft is yet to comment on the reports that ADC Lagos will be shutting down. The reason for the planned closure of the ADC Nigeria wing has also not yet been determined.
This potential closure does not appear to affect Microsoft’s operations in East Africa, particularly the ADC facility in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Nairobi ADC, now housed at Dunhill Towers along Waiyaki Way, includes over 450 full-time employees and features entities like the Microsoft Garage and the Microsoft Research Institute (MARI). The centre is considered a cornerstone of Microsoft’s commitment to developing technology solutions that can address local and global challenges, reflecting the company’s strategy to integrate deeply with the local tech ecosystems and academic institutions.
Source: CIO AFRICA
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