Microsoft Corporation is an American Multinational technology corporation Microsoft, which specializes in the production of computer software, consumer electronics, and personal computers has a $100 million African Development Center in Lagos, Nigeria. The center, located at 24 Glover Road, Ikoyi Lagos Nigeria serves as a premier center of engineering for Microsoft, where world-class African talent can create solutions for local and global impact. It is also a center where software engineering solutions are expected to be provided to Africa.
This investment by Microsoft is indeed a great sign of the continent’s growing importance as a global hub for talent.
According to information, the federal government has a partnership deal with the Bill Gates conglomerate to provide over 27,000 jobs for Nigeria tech gurus. This laudable achievement coming from the firm and the federal government has reduced the number of unemployed youths in the country, and kept them engaged.
The centre in Lagos forms part of Microsoft’s investment for two development centres in Africa, with the other located in Nairobi. Located in Ikoyi, Microsoft’s new office building, named King’s Tower is situated on over 11,000sqm gross leasable space spread across 15 floors, and located on the corner of Glover Road and Alfred Rewane Road (formerly Kingsway Road). King’s Tower was completed in Q1:2019.
Developed by Sky View Towers Limited, the development is part of other prominent Alfred Rewane Road office projects including Heritage Place, Alliance Place, Temple Tower, Famfa Oil Tower, Dangote Industries Headquarters and BAT Rising Sun.
Alongside Heritage Place, King’s Tower is one of the most prominent office buildings in Lagos, with asking rents of approximately US$800/sqm/per annum.
Microsoft’s King tower’s unique design, put together by SAOTA, makes it a favourite among major tech occupiers, with Microsoft occupying up to 4 floors and Facebook occupying over 4,000sqm of space in the building.
Other notable features and amenities include favourable floor to ceiling height, availability of a gym and luxury retail amenities such as a jewelry store.
Microsoft’s entry into the Lagos market has brought about rapid tech growth, as the tech company has fueled growth in the country.
Microsoft’s partnership with Nigeria is breeding a rising number of investors in the country which in turn has boosted the country’s economy. Nigeria has a very young population known for innovation and creativity, which explains why Nigeria leads in several innovations on the continent.
In fact, as of January 2022, it was recorded that a total of 7 unicorns were doing exceptionally well on the African continent, and 5 of them had their roots in Nigeria.
In June, 2023, shortly after the President’s inauguration, Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates, was one of the first callers in Aso Rock.
It was learnt that the visit is part of the Gates Foundation’s commitment to working closely with communities and leaders to support innovation.
The cordiality between Nigeria and Microsoft has paid-off in the long run. In October, 2022, the Nigerian government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the global tech giant, Microsoft Corporation to train five million citizens on high-demand technological skills that are needed to advance their respective careers.
Trust Nigerians, as the process and the implementation of the MOU commenced in earnest.
Microsoft has been offering its corporate social responsibility without fault.
Though some federal agencies provide capacity-building programmes for teeming citizens, the offer by Microsoft has gone a long in achieving the Federal Government’s dream of a digital Nigeria.
Kudos to the Federal Government that has continued to provide an enabling environment and ensure that regulatory instruments are developmental and flexible for Microsoft and other businesses to flourish.
Microsoft has worked closely with the governments at all levels to drive skill and employment initiatives in Nigeria by potentially building the capabilities and capacities of government organisations and enabling them to provide economic opportunities for the youth.
Some of the components of MOU include training of 1million job seekers in the most relevant digital skills for the job of today; 1700 ‘master’ trainers would be upskilled and 200,000 for certification as learners.
Nigerians are benefiting from free digital skills to enhance the way they do business, create job opportunities and increase productivity.
On the other hand, 1000 developers, under the Low Code October programme would be trained on low code, no code skills through Microsoft-led skilling initiatives
Another 100 youths will be upskilled in data and intelligence workloads in 30 days of the Microsoft Graph programme.
Over 5500 developers would also learn how to leverage Microsoft’s PowerApps to build technology solutions under Global power Platform Bootcamp.
Students are not left out as 290 of them would gain technology skills in Microsoft technology stack that would increase their chances of employability in 30 days of learning of the student programme.
The MOU also states that 5000 Nigerians will participate in the Azure Nigeria Community Conference.
Also, the collaboration includes the training of 1,7000 ‘master trainers’ on basic and intermediate digital skills while 27,000 youth would be connected to improved livelihood opportunities.
Olamide Adeniji is a member of the editorial team of TheScript Newspaper
