From Google to Facebook, interest in Africa’s tech industry continues to grow as Microsoft, following the launch of its 1st Azure data centres in South Africa, has launched its $100 Million Africa Development Centre in Lagos, Nigeria and Nairobi, Kenya.
The centre, which aims to recruit 100 full-time engineers by the end 2019, will rely on the diversity of Lagos and Nairobi’s tech landscape to build world class talent capable of creating innovative solutions for global impact.
The centres will particularly be looking at fintech, agritech, offgrid energy, mixed reality and artificial intelligence fields that have gained much traction across the continent over the last five years.
According to Microsoft’s Executive Vice President, Phil Spencer, “the ADC will be unlike any other existing investment on the continent. It will help us better listen to our customers, develop locally and scale for global impact…. Beyond that, it’s an opportunity to engage further with African partners, academia, governments and developers – driving impact and innovation in sectors important to Africa.”