Microsoft African Development Centre (ADC) in Lagos, Nigeria, is facing the possibility of closure, according to sources who spoke to the Guardian on Tuesday.
However, it was stated that Microsoft’s African Development Centre in East Africa, located in Nairobi, Kenya, is not affected, with the shutdown only impacting the Nigerian operation.
While Microsoft has not issued an official statement regarding this matter, it was reported that the management informed staff of the development on Monday.
News About Nigeria gathered that affected employees may receive their salaries until June and maintain their health maintenance organisations (HMOs), as per the information gathered.
However, the immediate cause behind the potential shutdown remains unclear, with no confirmation or denial from a source within the Microsoft Lagos office when contacted.
Although the reasons for the possible closure are yet to be officially disclosed, industry sources speculate that it might be linked to the current economic situation in the country.
In 2022, Microsoft announced the opening of its African Development Centre’s offices after three years of hosting at Microsoft’s Lagos hub.
The ADC established its new facility at the Kings Towers on Glover Road, Ikoyi, which housed product engineering, ecosystem development, and innovation teams.
The new ADC facility also accommodated the Microsoft Garage, launched as part of efforts to scale innovation in the tech ecosystem.
The facility’s inauguration was attended by key guests, including the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, the Director-General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Inuwa Kashifu Abdullahi, and the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by the Commissioner of Science and Technology, Hakeem Fahm.
During the opening ceremony, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy commended the development, stating that it bolstered Nigeria’s position as a leading regional digital innovation hub and contributed to the country’s dream to become Africa’s largest digital economy.
