Overview & History

Microsoft opened its African Development Centre (ADC) in Lagos in 2019 as part of a $100 million investment to support engineering and innovation across Africa.

The Lagos centre was created to recruit local engineering talent and build solutions for both local and global markets, focusing on areas like AI, cloud, and mixed reality.

It was based in King’s Tower, Ikoyi, Lagos, one of the city’s premier office locations.

Recent Changes & Scaling Back

In 2024, Microsoft shut down its African Development Centre in Lagos as part of global workforce adjustments.

Some engineers were let go, while others were offered relocation opportunities to Kenya.

Microsoft also reduced its Lagos office space, downsizing from six floors in King’s Tower to just two, now primarily used for sales and marketing.

There has been speculation that the Lagos office lease may not be renewed after 2025.

Current Focus & Initiatives in Nigeria

Even with the changes, Microsoft is still active in Nigeria:

Cloud Services: Microsoft continues to expand access to cloud solutions, with a focus on industries like oil and gas, where digital transformation is a major driver.

AI & Digital Skills Training: In 2025, Microsoft announced a program to train one million Nigerians in AI, cybersecurity, and digital skills over two years, partnering with local organizations to deliver training.

Infrastructure: Investments have been made in data centers and edge nodes to improve cloud access, reliability, and performance.

Partnerships: Microsoft works closely with government agencies, universities, startups, and the private sector to advance Nigeria’s digital transformation goals.

Challenges

Economic Factors: Currency instability, inflation, and foreign exchange restrictions create uncertainty for large-scale operations.

Talent Retention: The closure of the Lagos engineering hub caused a shift of talent, with many skilled engineers relocating to Kenya or other regions.

Commitment Concerns: Some in Nigeria’s tech community view Microsoft’s downsizing as a sign of reduced commitment to deep engineering presence in the country.

Training Program Viability: Questions have been raised about whether the scale of the digital skills initiative matches the resources committed.