Abideen Yusuf has been appointed as the general manager for Microsoft Nigeria and Ghana, following the elevation of Olatomiwa Williams to a regional role as chief growth and Artificial Intelligence Officer for Microsoft’s Middle East and Africa Growth Markets.
Yusuf and Williams announced the leadership changes on LinkedIn on Thursday. “Leading this team has been a unique experience, shaped by innovation, resilience, and a collective commitment to empowering every person and organisation to achieve more,” she said.
“I am deeply thankful for the support, collaboration, and spirit that have defined our tenure together and made our accomplishments possible. Together, we have achieved tremendous growth, created lasting impact, and built a legacy of innovation and collaboration across Nigeria and Ghana.”
Williams joined Microsoft in 2010, according to her LinkedIn, and became country manager in 2021. In her new role, she will drive AI and growth strategy across key markets in the region. She holds a degree in Computer Science from the Federal Polytechnic Offa and an MBA from the University of Liverpool.
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Yusuf, previously director of Enterprise Business (Commercial and Public Sector), will now oversee operations in the newly formed Multi Country Cluster (MCC) region.
“I look forward to deepening our engagement with local communities, empowering the next generation of leaders, and championing initiatives that drive positive change across in Nigeria and by extension the MCC region,” he said. “Together, we will continue to shape a future defined by collaboration, resilience, and shared success.”
Yusuf joined Microsoft in 2017. He studied Computer Science at Olabisi Onabanjo University and earned a master’s degree from Heriot-Watt University.
The leadership shuffle is part of a broader reorganisation at Microsoft in the region. Mirna Arif, general manager of Microsoft Egypt since 2020, will now lead the Middle East and Africa Growth Markets. Lillian Barnard, formerly head of Microsoft Africa, will take over as lead for Enterprise Partner Solutions in the Middle East and Africa.
“As we expand our investments in AI and digital infrastructure, our goal is to empower partners to achieve unprecedented progress across the region in the era of AI,” Barnard said.
