After IBM and Google, Microsoft to open new engineering office in Nigeria

Microsoft has now joined the bandwagon and is making inroads into Africa. A new scramble for Africa as world tech enterprises are in a “mad rush” to invest in the continent’s growing tech community as Africa continues to project and position herself.

After the International Business Machines Corporation, IBM opened a $100 million worth research facility in Nairobi, Kenya in 2013 and the establishment of Google’s Artificial Intelligence, AI center in Accra, Ghana in 2018.

The global software leader says a new Lagos office will focus on building mixed reality and artificial intelligence solutions and software.

Microsoft’s augmented reality chief, Alex Kipman, announced an imminent visit to Nigeria, urging software engineers to apply for positions at the new office yet to be open.

Earlier this year, Microsoft had announced the launching of Azure cloud data centers in South Africa. The center, reports say, is expected to enhance the processing of information and reduce data latency, especially for the financial industry.

Last year, Microsoft opened Africa’s first Software Testing center in Kenya and also established the continent’s customer service support center in Nigeria for its services and products.

The news, we gathered, was greeted with excitement in Nigeria and other African countries who for some time now, are positioning themselves as a force to reckon with in the tech world.

Currently, there are two tech-giants with data centers in the continent, one by Huawei and now Microsoft with many more, including Amazon, expected to cue in.