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By Oluseye Ojo
Lafarge Africa Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to gender inclusion and sustainable development, urging greater investment in women as a catalyst for economic growth and societal transformation.
The cement manufacturing giant made the commitment while commemorating International Women’s Day 2026 at a purpose-driven event themed: ‘The Give to Gain Blueprint: Investing in Women to Build Sustainable Impact’.
The event, held at The Hall Events Centre in Lagos on Friday, brought together female professionals, industry leaders and company stakeholders to deliberate on economic inclusion, workplace equity and the critical role of women in driving sustainable development across industries and communities.
Participants engaged in panel discussions and interactive sessions focused on building systems that enable women to thrive, take leadership roles and contribute meaningfully to organisational growth and national development.
Speaking at the event, the Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development Director of Lafarge Africa, Viola Graham-Douglas, stressed that empowering women goes beyond social responsibility and should be viewed as a strategic business decision.
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According to her, organisations that create enabling environments for women to contribute meaningfully often benefit from improved innovation, operational excellence and long-term resilience.
Delivering the keynote address, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Deputy Governor of Ogun State, reflected on her journey from engineering into public leadership. She explained how her technical background continues to shape her approach to governance, infrastructure development and providing solutions to problems.
She encouraged women to see career challenges as opportunities for learning and resilience. She also spoke on balancing professional ambition with family responsibilities, urging women to make deliberate choices that support both career advancement and personal fulfilment.
Earlier, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Lafarge Africa, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, said the company’s celebration of International Women’s Day reflects its culture of promoting equity and inclusion.
He listed initiatives such as the Green Women’s Network, Female Tilers and Block Laying Training Programme, as well as Women on Wheels Programme, all designed to expand economic opportunities for women within the construction and building materials sector.
The event also featured a panel moderated by Ronke Akpata with speakers including Oyinkan Adewale, Feyisayo Alayande, Shaffy Bello, Sola Adesakin and Gbemiga Owolabi, who shared insights on building inclusive workplaces and strengthening pathways for women’s leadership and economic participation.
