Microsoft is in the process of reducing its office space at the Kings Tower building in Ikoyi, Lagos, from six floors to two. This comes after the tech giant laid off half of its staff in Nigeria. According to sources, the company may not renew its tenancy agreement, which runs out in 2025.
From the flow of operations in Microsoft Nigeria, speculations suggest that the tech giant will soon leave the country as it rolls back its operations.
Organizational and workforce adjustments are a necessary part of managing our business. As we navigate these changes, Microsoft remains steadfast in its commitment to Africa’s growth and development.
Microsoft
The layoffs which occurred in May and June 2024 affected most of the engineering team after the company’s African Development Centre (ADC) Lagos was closed. The company has instructed most of the team members to relocate to Kenya for reassignment.
However, the Microsoft sales team, were majorly unaffected during the layoffs earlier this year and occupy the available office space.
We will continue to operate in Nigeria, actively supporting the county’s transformation objectives. Our investment in key growth areas remains unwavering, and we are determined to contribute to Africa’s progress by providing digital solutions, fostering innovation, and empowering local talent.
Williams Olatomiwa, Microsoft Nigeria Managing Director
Nigeria, on the other hand, is worried about the recent operations by the tech giant. The company is investing $1 billion in developing geothermal data centers in Kenya, which will require setting up an engineering team to oversee the project. Kenya currently holds a powerful position at the top in the race for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI).
