Lafarge Africa Launches 2025 Female Tilers, Block-Laying Training
Lafarge Africa Plc has commenced its 2025 women empowerment and inclusion training in the construction sector, with a new edition of its Female Tilers and Block-Laying programme.
The initiative, themed “BuildHer by Lafarge”, targets women in low-income communities across Lagos, Ogun, and Cross River States.
It is designed to provide participants with technical, entrepreneurial, and financial skills to help them thrive in the construction industry, a field often dominated by men.
The eight-week programme offers hands-on training in tiling and block-laying using Lafarge Africa’s Supafix and SupaSet products, alongside classes in entrepreneurship, mentoring, and financial literacy.
Graduates will receive certificates of completion endorsed by Lafarge Africa in partnership with technical institutions and trade associations, and will be formally integrated into the Block Makers and Tilers Association of Nigeria.
Group Managing Director/CEO of Lafarge Africa Plc, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, said the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to sustainable empowerment.
“At Lafarge Africa, we are keen on sustainable female empowerment. With our female tiler 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 the development of their families, their communities, and our nation,” he said.
Director of Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development, Viola Graham-Douglas, said the project balances technical skills with broader empowerment.
“We are raising the next generation of women in construction through this training programme. 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 than previous editions,” she said.
She added that graduates would be provided with start-up tools, while the top ten trainees would receive special recognition for outstanding performance.
The company also announced plans to launch a BuildHer Alumni Network to provide mentorship and collaboration opportunities. A Train the Trainers scheme will also be introduced to scale the programme across more communities.
The 2025 edition will be delivered in partnership with state government agencies.
In Lagos, the initiative is supported by the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, led by Commissioner Mobolaji Ogunlende, and the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund.
In Ogun, it is backed by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development under Commissioner Adijat Motunrayo Adeleye-Oladapo, while in Cross River, it is implemented with the Ministry of Women Affairs, led by Commissioner Oedema Irom.
The cement firm noted that participants, aged 20 to 45, would receive additional support, including transportation, feeding, and crèche services for nursing mothers, to enable full participation in the training.
