Leading innovative and sustainable building solutions company, Lafarge Africa Plc., has reaffirmed its commitment to host communities in Cross Rivers State with the inauguration of several development projects to mark its annual community day celebration.
Speaking at the 2021 community day and stakeholder engagement event which held recently, the Production Manager of Lafarge Africa Plc Mfamosing Plant, Cross River state, Mrs. Idara Uyok, said the initiative was part of efforts to strengthen the relationship between Lafarge, its host communities and the Cross-River state government.
Uyok remarked: “This initiative is to further demonstrate our commitment to supporting community development in line with our sustainability strategy, one of which focuses on people and our communities.”
Uyok stated that the forum did not only provide an opportunity for Lafarge to interact with its various stakeholders but also to share its CSR scorecard for 2021 and other footprints within the communities.
“As an organisation, our commitment with our host communities goes beyond our activity today. We are focused on sustainable initiatives that will leave an enduring footprint within the communities, impacting generations in a sustainable manner.”
“In the year 2021, as part of our CSR footprint in the community, we supported over 130 secondary and tertiary students to stay in school through our annual educational support programme, donated school desks across communities, recruited NYSC volunteers for teaching support in our host communities, donated school materials for pupils in our host communities’ primary schools,” she further stated.
In addition, the company trained over 50 youths on scaffolding, carpentry, block moulding, fashion designing, computer and other vocational skills while several women were trained on poultry and feed making. Motorcycles and Keke Napeps were also donated to youths in the various communities as part of the education and empowerment pillar of its CSR and Sustainability Development Goals – goal 4.
“We prioritize the health and well-being of members of our communities and we were able to launch a free medical outreach across communities, facilitated WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) projects in schools by ensuring that our public schools have good toilet systems and provided portable water for members of our communities”, she added.
She noted that the building solutions company is committed to building progress for its communities through sustainable projects that will improve the lives of the people. As part of the Infrastructure pillar of its CSR efforts, the company supported its host communities to build a teacher’s quarters in Ekong Anaku community and a town hall in Essien town community. It renovated the traditional council palace in Kasuk, and the shopping mall at Obutong community as well as the on-going town hall in Mbobui community.
She later expressed the company’s appreciation to the Mfamosing Plant Community Relations Committee, the entire village councils of the various host communities and the state government for supporting the company’s goal of creating peaceful and sustainable communities. “While we appreciate the people of Mfamosing Host Communities for continuously ensuring an enabling environment for our business, we believe that we will continue to receive the understanding and support from all our stakeholders to enable us to achieve set goals and objectives which will positively impact our local communities,” she added.
Commending Lafarge for its contributions to the growth of its host communities, the Clan Head , Kasuk Qua Clan, HRM Ntoe Patrick Agbor , said the highly impactful interventions by the company would really build capacity, alleviate poverty and curtail youths’ restiveness.
Various government representatives also took turns to express their joy and gratitude to Lafarge for the consistent show of a good neighbour to both their immediate host communities and others.
The community day event is an annual event by Lafarge Africa to celebrate with its host communities, give back, and demonstrate its commitment to doing sustainable business in Nigeria as a responsible corporate citizen. This community day is celebrated across all the communities where Lafarge Africa has its operations.
Present at the event were special guests of honour and dignitaries from the government and across the host communities which include Rt. Hon. Gorge O. Ben, Commissioner for Affordable Housing, Cross Rivers State, Dr. Janet Ekpeyong, Director General Cross Rivers State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Hon Linus Bassey , Chairman Akamkpa Local Government, Evangelist Ntufam Alphusus Bassey, Chairman, Community Relations Committee, Mfamosing Plant as well as royal fathers from all the host communities.
“In 2020, Lafarge invested a total of N1.2 billion in development initiatives in host communities, reaching more than 10,000 families across Nigeria. The support also included collaboration with the Nigerian government at all levels to curtail the spread of COVID-19 and also reduce its socio-economic impact on communities. The company is still investing in interventions to curtail the new coronavirus pandemic in host communities.”