Microsoft plans to close its West Africa operation located in Nigeria

In a major blow to Nigeria’s tech sector, reports suggest that Microsoft is considering shutting its African Development Centre based in Lagos.

This move, if confirmed, would mean that at least 200 staff would be out of a job.

It would also have profound implications for the country’s technological landscape, potentially impacting job opportunities and innovation in the sector.

According to industry insiders who spoke to The Guardian newspaper on Tuesday, May 7, Microsoft informed staff on Monday, May 6, of the closure plans.

Affected employees are slated to receive salary payments up until June and will continue to be covered by health insurance.

Sources suggest Nigeria’s challenging economic conditions likely played a role.

The closure appears to affect only the ADC’s West Africa operations in Nigeria, not its East Africa facility in Nairobi, Kenya.

Microsoft launched its $100 million African Development Centers initiative in 2019, establishing facilities in both Lagos and Nairobi.

The Nigeria centre employed over 120 engineers upon launch in 2022, growing to more than 200 total staff members.