Meta, the conglomerate behind social media giants Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is in the process of reassessing its physical office requirements, with a particular focus on reducing its footprint at the Kings Tower facility in the upscale Ikoyi district of Lagos. The company has issued a statement confirming its practice of routinely evaluating its office spaces globally to align with the evolving demands of the business, which includes its operations in Nigeria.
In an effort to optimize its real estate usage, Meta is shifting towards a model that encourages desk sharing, especially for employees who predominantly work remotely and spend a minimal amount of time in the office setting.
This strategic move comes in the wake of Meta’s recent workforce reduction in Nigeria, which saw the termination of approximately 35 positions, including a significant portion of its local engineering team, comprising up to 24 individuals. According to reports from TechCabal, Meta’s engineering functions for the region are now being managed from various global engineering centers located outside of Nigeria.
The downsizing in Nigeria is part of a broader trend within the company. In April 2023, Meta made a public announcement regarding a substantial layoff that affected around 4,000 members of its technical staff, impacting teams across its diverse platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Reality Labs, and WhatsApp.
This announcement was a follow-up to a statement made by Meta’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, in February 2023, in which he disclosed plans for the company to eliminate an additional 10,000 jobs in the subsequent months. This decision mirrored a similar action taken in November 2022, signaling a significant restructuring within the company as it adapts to changing market conditions and strategic priorities.
In light of the recent office space reduction, Meta has made it clear that its commitment to Nigeria remains unwavering. The company underscored its dedication to the region with a statement affirming its intention to continue making calculated and strategic investments that align with its long-term goals. “We are firmly committed to Nigeria and are making focused, balanced investments to support our most strategic long-term priorities,” Meta stated, reassuring stakeholders of its ongoing investment in the country.
This declaration comes amidst a broader narrative of tech giants reevaluating their physical and operational footprints in Nigeria. In a similar vein, Microsoft, another major player in the tech industry, made an announcement in May 2024 regarding the closure of its engineering division at the Microsoft Africa Development Centre (ADC) in Lagos. However, Microsoft was quick to clarify that this closure was specific to the engineering team and did not reflect on the broader operations of Microsoft Nigeria. The latter continues to manage the sales, marketing, and support for Microsoft’s products and services within the country, while the ADC was primarily focused on engineering and innovation tasks.
Adding to the discourse on the tech industry’s engagement with Nigeria, Nick Clegg, the President of Global Affairs at Meta, made a significant announcement during his visit to the country. He revealed that starting from June 2024, Nigerian content creators would be able to monetize their content through various options and features that Meta plans to release. This initiative is expected to open up new revenue streams for creators and further solidify Meta’s investment in Nigeria’s digital economy, demonstrating the company’s commitment to supporting local talent and fostering a vibrant online ecosystem.
