UNLIKE in the recent past, today most companies worth their salt take corporate social responsibility very seriously and the reason for this is not far to seek: how corporate social giving and other philanthropic gestures are managed can make or mar the fortunes of companies.
Perhaps, it is for this simple reason that a company like Lafarge WAPCO, a major player in the built and construction sub-sector, has come to pay a heed and tries as best as it can to pay attention to the finer details as it concerns its CSR engagement in its host communities.
The era of corporations being separate and distinct from their locale of operation has long passed; the new model of business operation presents corporations with human faces and hearts – hearts that are directly connected to the needs, aspirations and goals of not only the immediate members of the community where the company operate but also the members of a wider community with the sole objective to become an integral part of the fabric of the community and a major contributor to the socio-economic growth of these communities.
As it is largely self-regulatory in form, Corporate Socially Responsible organisations are those that exhibit a genuine sense of responsibility and strong belief in the upholding of the ethical standards, norms and nuances of the environment where they reside by volunteering and passionately committing their resources towards the betterment of such an environment. It has evolved beyond the provision of face-saving initiatives to a more organic and strategic process that bears directly on the bottom-line of any discerning organisation.
In an industry that manufactures a product that is key to the provision of a basic need of man – shelter, Lafarge Africa takes this global phenomenon to heart by outlining specific objectives and goals for its subsidiaries in this concern.
In terms of funding and better CSR engagement, Lafarge has not faltered in the last few years.
For example, the 2013 CSR report of WAPCO Operations indicates that the company’s annual budget appropriation on community development between 2006 and 2012 had continued to witness a steady growth from an expenditure of N77million in 2006 to N189 million in 2013. An authoritative source confirmed that the CSR budget for year 2014 was over N200 million.
With factories in the South-West, North East, and South-South regions of the country, the company’s investments Nigeria make it a leading cement manufacturer and marketer in the country with a range of high quality brands on its stable. These investments deliver a pedigree now spanning over 54 years and a relationship with its host communities that is nurtured through a need-based, strategic, and highly sustainable approach to CSR; an approach born of its recognition for its host communities as strategic partners to whom it owes and visibly accords a sense of mutual respect.
Lafarge Africa’s clear-cut proactive policy and strategy which allows for a prompt deployment of its CSR activities is hinged on four cardinal points; youth empowerment, education, health and poverty alleviation, and shelter (affordable housing). Cardinal points that are supported by a dedicated annual budget and key objectives aimed at building stakeholders’ relations through the implementation of a set plan as well as support the development of host communities.
These objectives serve as the guideline that directs every step taken by the company and acts as the measure of success for all initiatives taken and the considerable investments committed to the articulation of these cardinal points is proof positive of the inherent determination to enhance the standards of living of its host communities and be “… a blessing to its hosts.”
Lafarge Africa – through Ashaka Cement and Lafarge WAPCO Operations – has a track record of initiatives spanning the provision of rural electrification projects, a robust youth empowerment scheme aimed at banishing poverty from its territories, youth skills acquisition where yearly, host communities present a list of youths desirous of acquiring tradable skills and procuring trade equipment and tools to guarantee subsistence.
One of the key levers of the Sustainability Ambitions 2020 is volunteerism coupled with a passion for the priority area of education and the enrichment and the preparation of the minds of the youth for the challenges of the future was recently consolidated through the Lafarge Friends of Community (Lafarge FOC) hosting of the grand finale of a 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 – in partnership with the Ovie Brume Foundation – where Akwa Ibom State emerged overall winner of the competition.
This culture of volunteerism by the FOC is further evidenced by the hundreds of work hours being invested by staff teams to meeting community and social needs within their territories. They dedicate hours to environmental sanitation services, teach school children and donate items to meet the needs of orphans.
Yearly bursary awards to indigenous students in higher institution of learning to assist not only the parents of the students but also the students themselves some of whom have openly shown their appreciation for these initiatives as they see them as succor that afforded them concentration.
In recognition of the reality that not all Nigerian youth can gain admission into these institutions, the Artisans Capability Enhancement Scheme was set up to bridge this knowledge and skill gap. The objective of the ACES programme is to promote best practices in construction, by creating awareness on relevant standards for block making, enhance the technical know-how of block-makers and artisans group with respect to product application; educate artisans and block makers on the features, usage and benefits of different cement types among others.
The 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 for them to acquire skills in Electrical, Mechanical, and Instrumentation/Automation Craftsmanship. In furtherance of this – 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 in skills for the construction sector in an end-to-end programme that will in the long run transform Nigeria into an exporter of skilled manpower.
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 (3 ½) years and a takeaway of a National Board of Technical Education Certificate (NABTEB) O-Level certificate.
To ensure that the critical mass is spread participants are recruited from the catchments areas comprising of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe States with an average of 17 artisan trainees graduating on yearly basis. 4-5 graduate trainees proceed to gain admission into higher institutions with their certificates.
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 optimise 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.”
Little wonder, Lafarge Africa has consistently won several awards in recognition of its sense of responsibility towards the society across Nigeria and beyond.
From the Ogun State Government Overall Best Company in Corporate Social Responsibility award, to the 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.
Outside the shores of the country at the Assemblée Nationale in Paris, Lafarge Operations in Nigeria was honoured for its work on Diversity and Inclusion at the Gender Equality European/International Standard (GEEIS) Awards. Obviously, a standard has been set for Lafarge Africa itself and also for other organisations in Nigeria to take up the mantle of CSR with a face – The Lafarge Way.
