In a strategic shift, Microsoft has announced a significant reduction in its office space at the Kings Tower building in Ikoyi, Lagos.
The tech giant will downsize from six floors to just two, with the possibility of not renewing its tenancy in 2025.
This decision comes on the heels of layoffs at Microsoft’s African Development Centre (ADC) in Lagos in May 2024.
Despite these changes, Microsoft Nigeria, responsible for sales and marketing, will continue its operations in the country.
Engineers remaining at the ADC in Lagos have been asked to relocate to Kenya, where Microsoft is making substantial new investments.
This includes constructing a data center and establishing an East African Innovation Lab in Nairobi. This follows a series of layoffs at the ADC in Nairobi in March 2023.
The ADC in Lagos and Nairobi was originally established in 2019 to expand Microsoft’s engineering talent pool and invest in local programs.
However, the recent changes reflect a broader realignment of resources within the company.
Notably, Meta has also made similar moves, reducing its office space at the Kings Tower and laying off around 35 employees in Nigeria in June 2024.
