Microsoft will no longer shut down its company in Nigeria. This report was given by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu, Temitope Ajayi has reported that Microsoft’s Africa Development Centre in Lagos will no longer shut down.
He brought to the public understanding that the news report about the shutdown process was misinformation. Temitope Ajayi noted that the organisation was only “re-aligning roles” within its business fair, while “few roles will certainly be impacted.”
He made this clear on his X handle on Thursday.
Tweeting as @TheTope_Ajayi, he also said that the tweet made late Wednesday was false. This information was linked to the same subject by the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, labelling it a “naked dance.”
Peter Obi, the LP presidential candidate, also announced the shutdown, calling it “underscores the urgent need for comprehensive economic reforms in Nigeria.”
In Obi’s tweet, he said, “The recent announcement of Microsoft Nigeria to its workers about shutting down its innovation centre in Lagos and cutting 200 jobs is deeply troubling. It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive economic reforms in Nigeria”.
“This further highlights the challenges and broader issues plaguing the Nigerian economy. The closure of Microsoft’s innovation centre represents yet another significant setback for Nigeria’s aspirations to become a hub for technology and innovation in Africa.”
Peter Obi tweeted that Microsoft’s shutdown “raises serious concerns” about Nigeria’s “business environment for investors.”
Temitope Ajayi, reacting to this, said, “The story that Microsoft is shutting down its Nigeria office is not true. Africa Development Centre is just a department within Microsoft’s Nigerian business. Contrary to incorrect media reports and Peter Obi’s ‘naked dance’, the Africa Development Centre is also not shutting down.”
“Microsoft, like any other organisation, is only re-aligning roles within the business, and few roles will certainly be impacted. Affected staff under 30 will be asked to apply for new roles within Microsoft – a standard practice within the organisation.”
Temitope added that all employees “who can’t find new roles in other departments or those who want to seek new opportunities outside the system will be asked to go. The situation at Microsoft is not near the impression of the ‘earthquake’ Peter Obi sensationally described.”
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