Business: Lafarge Africa Empowers More Women, As 30 Graduate From Company's Women on Wheels Driving Institute

Judex OKORO 

Lafarge Africa Plc, has graduated 30 female truck drivers through its Women on Wheels (WOW) initiative. 

The initiative has produced 103 female truck drivers since inception in 2019.

The new set of graduates from the Lafarge Driving Institute were unveiled at an elaborate graduation ceremony held in Calabar, Cross River state, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

In his remarks at the ceremony, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge Africa Plc, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, described WoW as a game changing initiative in a male-dominated profession. 

According to him, "Lafarge Africa is committed to empowering women and ensuring stakeholder safety. Our initiative to train female truck drivers is a game-changer in Nigeria's male-dominated transportation industry.

 "We are adding 30 more women to our growing list. In 2021, 56 women graduated from our Mfamosing operations, and recently, 17 did from our Ewekoro operations.

" This addresses driver shortages, enhances transportation, sets industry benchmarks, promotes sustainability, and increases gender diversity in logistics."

Speaking at the ceremony, the Logistics Director, Lafarge Africa Plc, Osazemen Aghatise, stated that the excellent performance of previous WoW graduates has spurred the company to invest more in the training programme.

"The success of our female truck drivers has encouraged us to expand the programme, enhancing safety, efficiency, and gender equality in our logistics,” he said.

Advising the graduating students, Hon Edema Irom, Cross River state, Commissioner for Women Affairs, enjoined the ladies to continue to extend the frontiers of excellence in which they have displayed to attain this new height. 

According to her, "Cross River state is always advocating enhancement of the lives of the girl-child, and you must be our great ambassadors of the state and the nation at large."

In here remarks, the best graduating student of the set, Nzom Gertrude, commended Lafarge Africa for making the dream a reality. 

Reflecting on the journey, she said: “Many people assumed that we couldn't achieve this feat. However, with the encouragement of the instructors and our families, we have done it.”

Addressing the graduates, representative of Integrated Automotive Services Limited (IASL), Kemi Shobayo, advised them to drive with confidence, lead with integrity and never forget that they are role models to young girls who dare to dream big.

Lafarge Africa is a leading innovative and sustainable building solutions company and manufacturer of a range of cement brands.

Women on Wheels initiative is an inclusive programme designed to empower women by providing them with the skills and knowledge to become professional truck drivers. 

The programme focuses on providing road safety guidelines, technical skills, and defensive driving techniques necessary for success in the male-dominated logistics industry.

Present at the events include Lafarge Driving Institute partners, industry regulators, government officials, and community stakeholders, the Cross River State Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Ekpeyong Cobham; Cross River State Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Hon. Effiom Ekaha; and Chairman, Akampa Local Government, Hon. Felix Okposi.

 _About Lafarge Africa Plc_ 
 
Lafarge Africa Plc, a leading Nigerian building solutions company and is a member of Holcim Limited, a global leader in innovative and sustainable building solutions. 

Listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group, Lafarge Africa is actively participating in the urbanization and economic growth of Nigeria, the largest economy in Africa.
  
Lafarge Africa has the widest footprint in Nigeria with cement operations in the South West (Ewekoro and Sagamu in Ogun State), North East (Ashaka, in Gombe State), South East (Mfamosing, Cross Rivers State) with Ready-Mix operations in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. Lafarge Africa has a current installed cement production capacity of 10.5Mtpa.
 
Lafarge Africa leverages on its innovative expertise to provide value-added products and services solutions in the building and construction industry in Nigeria. 

Lafarge Africa Plc is renowned for the production of a wide range of cement solutions designed to meet all building and construction needs from small projects like individual home buildings to major construction projects.