Lafarge Africa Plc has rolled out the 2025 edition of its flagship female empowerment programme, BuildHer by Lafarge, aimed at training women in tiling and block-laying, two professions traditionally dominated by men.
The initiative, which kicked off in Lagos, Ogun, and Cross River states, will equip 100 women from low-income communities with technical, entrepreneurial, and financial literacy skills over an intensive eight-week period.
Speaking at the launch, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Lafarge Africa Plc, Mr. Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, said the programme underscores the company’s commitment to sustainable female empowerment and poverty reduction.
“With our female tilers and block-laying training programme, we are opening doors for women to participate meaningfully in the construction industry while improving their economic independence.
“We are proud to play a role in breaking barriers, reducing poverty, and creating opportunities for women to contribute to their families, communities, and nation,” he said.
The 2025 edition is being implemented in partnership with state governments and relevant agencies.
In Lagos, the programme enjoys the support of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, led by Commissioner Mobolaji Ogunlende, and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund under its Executive Secretary, Feyisayo Alayande.
In Ogun, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, headed by Mrs. Adijat Motunrayo Adeleye-Oladapo, is backing the project, while in Cross River, the Ministry of Women Affairs, led by Mrs. Edema Irom, is partnering with Lafarge.
Participants will receive hands-on training using Lafarge’s Supafix and SupaSet products. Beyond the technical skills, they will also undergo entrepreneurship, mentoring, and financial literacy sessions. To ensure inclusivity, Lafarge has provided transportation, feeding, and even a creche for nursing mothers with infants below 18 months.
Mrs. Viola Graham-Douglas, Director of Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development at Lafarge, noted that the initiative balances technical training with empowerment opportunities.
“Since 2022 when we deployed the first training, we have trained more than 60 women and are excited for this year’s edition which is bigger and better.
The programme will culminate in a graduation ceremony, where participants will be certified and integrated into the Block Makers and Tilers Association of Nigeria, formally recognizing them as professionals open to job opportunities,” she explained.
At the end of the training, every graduate will receive start-up tools, while the top 10 participants will be specially honoured for excellence.
Lafarge also plans to launch a BuildHer Alumni Network to provide mentorship and visibility for beneficiaries, alongside a Train the Trainers scheme to ensure the programme’s sustainability and replication across other communities.
Lafarge Africa, a subsidiary of Huaxin Cement Co. Ltd, is one of Nigeria’s leading building solutions companies, with operations across several states. Through initiatives like BuildHer, it says it is reinforcing its role not only in driving economic growth but also in advancing gender inclusion in Nigeria’s construction industry.
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