On Monday March 21st, 2022, Microsoft launched a new facility for its first Africa Development Centre (ADC) in Lagos, Nigeria.
Business Insider Africa gathered that the tech giant had spent a total of $100 million setting up the project back in 2019. The aim of the Africa Development Centre is to facilitate the creation of tech solutions that will solve both African and global problems.
Located at the King Towers in Ikoyi Lagos, the new facility will house Microsoft teams working on product engineering, ecosystem development, innovation and the the Microsoft Garage.
"Our desire is to recruit exceptional engineering talent across the continent that will build innovative solutions for global impact. This also creates opportunities for engineers to do meaningful work from their home countries and be plugged into a global engineering and development organisation," Microsoft said in an earlier statement that was seen by Business Insider Africa.
Nigeria's Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, officially launched the newly acquired facility in the company of other dignitaries, including the DG of Nigeria's National Information Technology Development Agency, Kashifu Inuwa.
According to Mr Pantami, Google's decision to locate one of its development centres in Nigeria is testament to Nigeria's relevance as Africa's main digital hub. He then added that the Microsoft development centre would help Nigeria to further grow its digital economy.
Meanwhile, a representative of the Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, thanked Microsoft for its "commitment to developing the tech in our state and country through this state-of-the-art 7-floor facility, which will improve employment and also contribute significantly to the training and rise of many tech giants in Nigeria.”
The multinational technology company which manufactures computers, computer software and other consumer electronics, announced in May 2019 that it had launched two Africa Development Centres in Nairobi and Lagos. The ADCs are expected to facilitate technological advancement on the continent.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect that Microsoft has only expanded its Africa Development Centre in Lagos by acquiring a new facility.
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