Microsoft Unveils First African Development Centre In Lagos

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The logo of French headquarters of American multinational technology company Microsoft, is pictured outside on March 6, 2018 in Issy-Les-Moulineaux, a Paris’ suburb. / AFP PHOTO / GERARD JULIEN (Photo credit should read GERARD JULIEN/AFP/Getty Images)

By Toyosi Olajide

Global Tech Company, Microsoft has invested $200 million in Nigeria through its newly unveiled African Development Centre (ADC) in Lagos. 

ADC is a premier engineering centre created by Microsoft to serve as a base for African industry leaders to create local solutions with global scalability as well as provide employment opportunities and further enhance technological innovations on the continent.

During the unveiling, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Pantami, submitted that ADC would help the continent bridge the gap between it and other regions, appreciating the efforts of Microsoft for establishing such a facility in Nigeria. He also charged other private sector operators to emulate and support the Federal Government’s digital economy programmes, adding that the government cherished and value its relationship with Microsoft. 

He also said though the government plans to complete digitisation of the economy by 2030, “I can say that the ADC is in line with FG’s digital economy project. This would help the government to deliver a digital economy for Nigeria.”

Pantami also noted that Microsoft would get Universal License, which would ensure that it services the governments and parastatals. He said the government would negotiate through the Universal License, and enable MDAs to have access, which they would subscribe to through the government.

Corporate Vice President, Identity at Microsoft, Joy Chik, said “Microsoft opened its subsidiary in Nigeria in 2000, while in 2013, it created For Africa Initiative, which was designed to help Africa strengthen its technology infrastructure and get more African consumers online and help prepare the region’s next-generation workforce.

She added that “this year marks 48 years of the creation of Microsoft, informed that the firm had been working with governments, technology partners and universities.”

In furtherance to her words, in March 2019, the firm opened the first data centre on the continent in South Africa, and in May 2019, the firm announced the ADC in Nigeria and Kenya, with the mission of creating innovative technologies not just for Africa but for the entire world. “We hired engineers for Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Mixed Reality and we committed to investing $100 million in the first five years of operations,” she said.

“The ADC is a place for world-class engineers to create products and services that would power the future global economy. She said the firm has surpassed 500 engineers planned to be hired by 2023 that would work across identity, Mixed Reality, Microsoft 365 services as well as data services,” she stated.

According to her, there are over 120 engineers and more than 200 employees, adding that the firm would continue to focus on students and community engagements.

Chik, who stressed that Africa holds great potential for Microsoft with over 180,000 employees across the globe, noted that the firm is committed to empowering every person and organisation in Africa through the ADC.

According to the Managing Director, ADC, Gafar Lawal, said the Centre would reposition Africa digitally, emphasizing that huge investments have gone into the space.

Lawal said about $200 million have been invested thus far, with $70 million going into the building, which houses the ADC.

In Addition, The Country Manager, Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, Ola Williams, said the impact of the American firm is being felt across the continent, stressing that it partners with governments, NGOs, with the impact, felt in the education sector and public service.

Williams confirmed that the firm has touched 1.2 million Nigerians in terms of skilling, stressing that 370,000 got skilled during the pandemic. She described the ADC investment as another opportunity for Microsoft to scale and impact society directly.

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