In recognition of its outstanding performance in gender inclusion and diversity within its rank, Lafarge Africa Plc has been presented with a Gender Diversity Award at the Nigeria2Equal Gender Leader Awards.
The company also received recognition for Women’s Empowerment and Leadership.
The award and recognition was put together by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) and presented to the company at an impressive ceremony held in Lagos recently.
According to the organisers, the Company Board Gender Award spotlights organisations that have achieved a gender-balanced board of directors of up to 40 to 60 per cent on their Supervisory and Management Boards. Lafarge Africa was awarded for prioritising inclusivity and diverse leadership to drive innovation and long-term success.
The organisers while commending Lafarge for its feat, said through policies and initiatives that Lafarge Africa has fostered an inclusive corporate culture, paving the way for equitable representation at the highest levels of decision-making.
For the Recognition for Women’s Empowerment and Leadership award, the building solutions company was recognized for establishing or scaling up its workplace women’s network, fostering a supportive environment and providing opportunities for women’s growth, mentorship, and leadership within the organization in the last twenty-four months, thereby creating a more inclusive and empowering workplace for all.
In his remarks, Gbemiga Owolabi, the Organizational and Human Resources director of Lafarge Africa, while thanking the organizers for the recognition, said, “We are extremely delighted for this recognition. At Lafarge, we continue to receive recognition for our outstanding performance in Board gender inclusion and diversity. Currently, women hold 47 per cent of the available board seats at our company, a significant increase from 40 per cent in 2021.”
“For us, diversity is more than just a hiring trend; it has evolved into a culture that has been transformed into a strategic obligation in an otherwise traditional male dominated industry.