Amazon’s CTO Werner Vogels Unveils Plans for African Development Centres During Lagos Visit
Amazon is expanding its tech footprint in Africa, with CTO Werner Vogels announcing plans to launch development centres across the continent during his recent visit to Lagos.
Speaking at AWS Builders’ Day, Vogels praised Nigeria’s innovation landscape and emphasized Amazon’s commitment to supporting African engineers, startups, and digital growth.
Amazon is doubling down on its presence in Africa’s tech ecosystem, with Chief Technology Officer and Vice President Werner Vogels announcing plans to launch development centres across the continent. The revelation came during Vogels’ recent visit to Lagos, Nigeria, where he met with tech leaders, startups, and developers while touring innovation hubs.
Speaking at several events, including AWS Builders’ Day, Vogels reaffirmed Amazon’s commitment to investing in Africa’s rich pool of tech talent. “Amazon wants to follow where the talent is,” he said, dismissing outdated notions about African capability and highlighting Nigeria’s role as a key innovation driver on the continent.
These upcoming development centres are set to be hubs of engineering excellence, designed to build, test, and scale global software solutions from African soil. They will support local talent while addressing both regional and international needs, and are expected to contribute significantly to Africa’s growing role in the global digital economy.
During his Lagos tour, Vogels visited SeamlessHR, a Nigerian-founded HR technology company headquartered in Ikeja. The company currently supports over 2,000 businesses across 20 African countries. SeamlessHR recently secured $9 million in a funding round led by the Gates Foundation and Helios Digital Ventures, bringing its total investment to $22 million. The funds are aimed at scaling AI-driven workforce management tools tailored for African markets.
Vogels’ presence in Nigeria underscores Amazon’s ongoing strategy to tap into Africa’s vast tech potential. Since launching the AWS Africa (Cape Town) Region in 2020, the tech giant has invested over R15.6 billion (approximately $874 million) in South Africa, with plans to pour in an additional R30.4 billion (about $1.7 billion) by 2029. These efforts are projected to contribute more than R80 billion to South Africa’s GDP and create thousands of jobs annually.
While speaking with young developers and founders at AWS events in Lagos, Vogels noted that Africa is no longer viewed merely as a consumer of technology but increasingly as a producer.
“The level of innovation we’re seeing from Nigerian engineers and entrepreneurs is world-class,” he said. “It’s only natural for Amazon to be a part of this journey.”
His visit follows growing international attention on African startups, many of which are producing groundbreaking solutions in fintech, education, logistics, and healthcare. Amazon’s decision to establish development centers signals a deeper commitment to nurturing this momentum while also ensuring that its growth is rooted in the creativity and innovation emerging from the continent.
In a region often challenged by brain drain and limited infrastructure, this move offers a significant morale boost. By establishing development hubs that will work on globally scalable solutions, Amazon is creating new opportunities that may help retain top-tier African talent within the continent.
With Africa rapidly evolving into a powerhouse of digital innovation, Amazon’s next chapter in Africa may just be the beginning of a new frontier in global tech leadership.
