IKOYI, Lagos – Microsoft confirmed layoffs at its African Development Center (ADC) in Lagos, Nigeria, but denied reports of the entire center’s closure.
A Microsoft spokesperson clarified that the company is undergoing “organisational and workforce adjustments,” resulting in the engineering team’s layoff. The spokesperson emphasized that the Microsoft office in Nigeria remains operational.
This decision comes amidst a larger trend of restructuring within Microsoft. The company initiated layoffs in 2023, citing the need to streamline operations and focus on strategic growth areas.
The Lagos ADC, opened in 2019, aimed to cultivate local engineering talent and contribute to Microsoft’s global projects. However, after five years of operation, the company parted ways with its engineering team in Lagos.
The future of the facility remains uncertain. While some speculate about AI-powered replacements, recent developments like the closure of Microsoft’s Xbox gaming studio, Arkane Austin, suggest a potential scaling back of operations in Nigeria.
