Nigeria FG, Microsoft to make Nigeria's tech space most viable in Africa

The Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has hinted the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria is looking to work with Microsoft to make Nigeria the tech hub of Africa.

By collaborating with the multinational corporation to use technology to address issues affecting Nigerians and engage Nigeria’s youth.

The vice-president met virtually with Brad Smith, Microsoft President and Akin Banuso, Microsoft country manager, Nigeria. When Microsoft called on him to offer support for the Digital Transformation pillar of the Federal Government’s economic sustainability plan.

The meeting saw Microsoft disclosing plans to partner with the Nigeria FG for the benefit of the Nigerian people especially the youth. The finer details of this partnership are yet to be agreed on.

Microsoft president Brad Smith notes, the vision for Microsoft’s investment in Nigeria is one that will lead to the creation of Africa’s most viable technology ecosystem.

The vice-president has on various occasions appealed to global technology multinationals to build capacity and employ Nigerians.

I have always wondered how Microsoft can be a much more effective partner with us as a country, Prof. Osibanjo asks.

“Beginning with the African Development Center which I think is excellent, I think it shows the commitment of Microsoft in developing the digital centre here in Nigeria. And it also shows the company’s confidence in the sort of talents that we have and the commitment of the government to ensuring that we develop that talent in the best possible ways that we can.”
Prof. Yemi Osinbajo

On investments and opportunity for the youth in Nigeria, Microsoft opened one of its two Africa Development Center sites in Lagos. Hiring local software engineers to work on cloud solutions for Microsoft’s Azure Mixed reality services.

The company also announced it was bringing an Azure Edge site to Lagos to give customers a faster network. New details also show Microsoft is looking at plans to open a datacenter region in Nigeria.