LAGOS (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.