The different sides of Lafarge Africa

Following the hullabaloo over cement grading in 2014, a number of consumers were not privileged to learn several facts about Lafarge Africa plc, which is Nigeria’s second largest cement maker.

First, Lafarge will soon give Nigeria its first ever international cement research centre, a feat that has only been achieved by France, China, Brazil, India and Algeria.

Second, Lafarge is beginning to reduce the quantity of clinker in each ton of cement to making more clinker available for the future and reduce the level of carbon (Co2) emission, according to Gilles Rochard, prospective research and development (R&D) director, Lafarge Group.

Again, the country will soon have OneCem low density cement product for the oil and gas sector.

Apart from all these, there is one key area the company has rivalled its competitors. This is an area called corporate social responsibility (CSR).

The objectives of Lafarge’s CSR initiative includes: enhancing stakeholder relations through implementation of a set plan, supporting the development of host communities, as well as ensuring that it is heard and seen as a driver of local socio-economic development.

The 2013 CSR report of WAPCO Operations indicated that the company’s annual budget appropriation on community development between 2006 and 2012 had continued to grow from an expenditure of N77 million in 2006 to N189 million in 2013. An authoritative source confirmed that the CSR budget for year 2014 was over N200 million.

Lafarge Africa – through Ashaka Cement and Lafarge WAPCO Operations – has a track record of initiatives spanning rural electrification, robust youth empowerment and youth skills acquisitions.

One of the key levers of the Sustainability Ambitions 2020 is volunteerism, coupled with a passion for education and the preparation of the minds of the youth for the challenges of the future through the Lafarge Friends of Community (Lafarge FOC).

Lafarge FOC recently hosted the grand finale of its literacy competition designed for primary school pupils, involving no fewer than 18 states in the three regions of South-South, South-West and North East. It was done in partnership with the Ovie Brume Foundation and had Akwa Ibom State emerge overall winner.

The company also has an annual bursary awards to indigenous students in higher institutions of learning, where it assists them complete their education.

In recognition of the fact that not all Nigerian youth can gain admission into these institutions, Lafarge Africa set up the Artisans Capability Enhancement Scheme (ACES) to bridge this knowledge and skill gap.

ACES is designed and wholly sponsored by Lafarge in its drive towards solving the technical skills deficit in the society. The scheme is targeted at young school leavers from the host-communities along with others from the larger Nigerian society to ensure that they can acquire skills in electrical, mechanical, and instrumentation/automation craftsmanship.

Also, Lafarge as a member of the board of the Cement Technology Institute of Nigeria (CTIN) recently signed an MoU with the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to be part of a consortium of cement manufacturers to contribute to a N15billion fund for the training of youths to acquire skills for the construction sector in an end-to-end program that will in the long run transform Nigeria into an exporter of skilled manpower.

Lafarge Africa has through its constituent companies deployed a systemic programme that covers health, habitation and information technology training. The implementation of these programs adheres strictly to its strategy to ensure meeting the need of the critical mass of their stakeholders.

As such, there have been appreciable in-roads made by Ashaka Cement Plc in the areas of artisan training with the construction of a training centre whose main objective is to promote and encourage skills acquisition to generate a pool of indigenous trained manpower sufficient to meet AshakaCem’s manpower needs.

Over 1,000 people have benefited from the skills acquisition scheme from the centre in various trade tests with a training period of three and half (3½) years and a takeaway of a National Board of Technical Education Certificate (NABTEB) O-Level certificate.

To ensure spread, participants are recruited from the catchments areas comprising Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe states with an average of 17 artisan trainees graduating on yearly basis. Four to five graduate trainees proceed to gain admission into higher institutions with their certificates.

A number of the trainees who excel in their areas of study gain employment into AshakaCem Plc, although employment is not automatic as it is mainly based on the availability of vacancies.

However, as recorded, trainees that pass out from the training centre that are not employed by the company gain permanent employment with other organisations.

More so, the Ashaka Employability Trainee Programme was designed to give the teeming youth marketable skills for employability. This programme has helped significantly to reduce youth restiveness in the community as a monthly allowance of N5,000 is given to each trainee for the six-month duration of the programme. Upon graduation, each participant receives a set of tools in addition to the Trade Test Certificate by Federal Ministry of Labour. Since inception in 2012 to date, this programme has catered for over 220 youths.

The corporate stance on health has made the provision of accessible health facilities a key aspect of Lafarge’s CSR. The establishment and continued maintenance of the Ashaka Medical Centre in the plant to render medical services to employees and members of the communities has been a priority for Ashaka Cement plc.

With over 100 people receiving medical attention daily and a programme of collaboration between the company’s medical doctors and the state government’s primary health care service personnel, quality and life-saving services are rendered to the members of the Ashaka community.

A similar approach to the provision of quality and accessible healthcare was set up by the WAPCO Operations of Lafarge Africa with a calendar of initiatives to ensure good health. In light of this, the company recently refurbished and equipped a modern clinic at the Technical College, Agidingbi in Ikeja. The company has also executed various projects, including provision of ambulance and medical supplies to Ewekoro Health Center, donation of refractometer to OOUTH, public enlightenment of personal health care, safe motherhood, safe environment, road safety and effective domestic and industrial waste management.

Information Technology is a key component in the performance of Lafarge’s duties. It created Community Computer Learning Centre, which was commissioned in 2001, with the primary aim of providing free IT literacy to host and extended communities including the NYSC, Police, health agencies and others.

The next step in the evolution of youth training is the Graduate Trainee Programme which took off in 2005, with the objective of building a team of young, talented and competent graduates from the engineering discipline for employment in the production and maintenance departments as well as sales and marketing through a twelve (12) month on-the-job learning program. The program has had, to date, 55 graduate trainees with 26 currently in employment.

Furthermore, AshakaCem has constructed and equipped blocks of two classrooms at Mus`ab, Shagaru, Attahir and Piu.

In order to meet the need for safe habitation, AshakaCem embarked on a Community Relocation of three communities – Lariski, Darumpa and Malari–which became necessary as the operation of the limestone quarry approached their location. The company’s management adopted the option of relocation in order to ensure the continued safety of the people of thesecommunities. In light of this, the relocation exercise involved the construction of 55 homes, 1 dispensary clinic, 1 primary school (for primary one through six), a mosque as well as provision of attendant social amenities, including potable water. The project with an estimated cost of about NGN300m was completed mid-2014 with the active involvement of the local community.

According to Lafarge, “our Sustainability Ambitions 2020 will help us to make a net positive contribution to society. This is not about philanthropy; it’s about defining our role towards society while at the same time creating value for shareholders, customers, employees and communities. Our operations aim to optimize the use of natural resources and protect the environment. We want to be among the leading companies in terms of health and safety, to promote diversity and human rights, to implement strict rules for governance, and to engage in comprehensive and transparent dialogue with our stakeholders.”

Lafarge has won awards such as Ogun State Government Overall Best Company in Corporate Social Responsibility award, Most Responsive Tax Payer Award for 2013 in Ogun State and the jewel in the crown; Overall Best Company SERA Awards in 2013, and first runner up in 2014.

 

Odinaka Anudu