Lafarge Holds Capacity Building Workshop For CRC, Stakeholders
... Landlord Communities Laud Company's Social Investment
By Ogbu KOSY
In a bid to strengthen the relationship between its host communities and self, Lafarge Africa PLC, Mfamosing Plant, manufacturers of Unicem Cement, recently held a 3-day capacity building workshop for its Community Relations Committee and stakeholders in Calabar.
The workshop that held at Dannic Hotel, Calabar, drew participants from Lafarge Africa Plc, Mfamosing Plant's 10 partnering communities cutting across Akamkpa, Akpabuyo and Calabar Municipality of Cross River State.
Declaring the workshop open, a representative of the Company, Mr. Inyang Bassey, said the training was aimed at sustaining and possibly improving Lafarge's harmonious working relationship with the communities, as well as reassure host communities of its commitment to the social and economic development of the communities.
Mr. Bassey, who is also the Company's Public Affairs Manager, appealed to participants to give the programme the necessary attention as it is critical to cordial relationship between Lafarge, host communities and Cross River State at large.
The Coordinator of the facilitating organisation, Girls Power Initiative, Mrs. Comfort Ikpeme, highlighted the workshop objectives to include: Strengthening capacity of the Community Relations Committee members and other stakeholders on issues relating to community development, increase participants knowledge on managing community members, conflicts, projects, and participating actively in activities of both Lafarge and host communities, and to increase effective and positive collaboration with Lafarge and maintaining healthy relationship between parties.
Earlier in his remarks, the CRC Chairperson, Ntufam Alphonsus Bassey frowned at the exclusion of women in the delegation to the workshop, calling for gender balance in subsequent events. He urged participants to take the training seriously as it was intended to deepen their horizons and equipping them to maintain the already harmonious relationship between Lafarge and its host communities.
The workshop which started on July 11 through 13, had Mr. Effiom Duke of Green Concern for Development (GREENCODE) present a lecture on Communication Strategies. The workshop also tutored participants on subjects such as Leadership, Community development and project management: the role of community stakeholders, Community crises management, Human rights issues, and Basic health talks on cancer and other silent killer diseases and prevention tips.
Ntufam Alphonsus Bassey, Chief Akiba Akiba, Mr. Francis Okon, Mr. Benedict Okache, among other stakeholders, spoke glowingly of Lafarge's interventions in education, sports, entrepreneurship, vocational trainings, infrastructural development, etc, through its corporate social responsibility programmes, noting that the ripple effects have impacted highly on the host communities.
