Microsoft Nigeria realigns roles, not closes

Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to President Bola Tinubu, has refuted media reports claiming the closure of the Lagos office of the Microsoft African Development Centre.

While noting that the closure was an “incorrect media report”, Ajayi said the organization was “realigning roles” within its business, while “few roles will certainly be affected”.

He stated this on Thursday on X.com.

Tweeting as @TheTope_Ajayi, he also criticized the tweet made on Wednesday night on the same issue by Labour’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, calling it “naked dancing”.

Obi regretted the closure announcement, saying it “underscores the urgent need for comprehensive economic reforms in Nigeria.”

Obi’s tweet read in part: “Microsoft Nigeria’s recent announcement to its workers about the closure of its innovation center in Lagos and the elimination of 200 jobs is deeply worrying. It underlines the urgent need for comprehensive economic reforms in Nigeria.

“This further highlights the broader challenges and issues affecting the Nigerian economy. “The closure of the Microsoft innovation center represents another major setback to Nigeria’s aspirations to become a technology and innovation hub in Africa.”

The former governor of Anambra State tweeted that the closure “raises serious concerns” about Nigeria’s “business environment for investors.”

Reacting to this, Ajayi noted: “The story that Microsoft is closing the Nigerian office is not true. Africa Development Center is just one department within Microsoft’s business in Nigeria. Contrary to media misreports and Peter Obi’s naked dancing, the Africa Development Center will not close either.

“Microsoft, like any other organization, is only realigning roles within the business, and few roles will certainly be affected. Affected staff, numbering less than 30 people, will be asked to apply for new positions within Microsoft, a standard practice within the organization.”

The presidential aide added that employees “who cannot find new roles in other departments or those who want to seek new opportunities outside the system will be asked to leave. The situation at Microsoft is nothing like the ‘earthquake’ impression that Peter Obi sensationally described.”