LAGOS, May 8 (Reuters) - Microsoft ( MSFT ) is closing

down its Africa Development Centre in the continent's most

populous nation Nigeria, which will lead to job losses, a

spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The centre, based in the commercial capital Lagos was opened

in 2022 as part of Microsoft's ( MSFT ) push to deliver high-end

engineering and innovation solutions for the company.

The company said it would, however, continue to operate in

Nigeria, continuing to prioritize and invest in strategic growth

areas.

"Microsoft ( MSFT ) has decided to close the Africa Development

Centre in Nigeria, and as a result some of our employees based

in Nigeria will be impacted," the Microsoft ( MSFT ) spokesperson said.

"Organizational and workforce adjustments are a necessary

and regular part of managing our business."

It was not immediately clear how many people would be

impacted.

In December 2022, Microsoft ( MSFT ) President Brad Smith said Africa

represented a burgeoning talent pool in contrast to declining

population growth elsewhere. Microsoft ( MSFT ) at that time had more

than 200 engineers in Lagos and more than 500 in Nairobi, Kenya.