HBM Nigeria reaffirms commitment to sustainability, community development
HBM Nigeria Plc, formerly Lafarge Africa Plc, says it will continue to deepen its investments in sustainability, community development and local capacity building as part of its long-term strategy to create shared value and support Nigeria’s industrial growth.
The Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the company, Lolu Alade-Akinyemi, committed a media engagement in Lagos on Monday, where he provided insights into the company’s recent name change from Lafarge Africa Plc to HBM Nigeria Plc.
According to him, sustainability remains a core pillar of the company’s business strategy, with increasing investments in projects aimed at improving livelihoods, protecting the environment and fostering inclusive economic development in its host communities.
He disclosed that over the past five years, HBM Nigeria has consistently increased its annual spending on sustainability initiatives, supporting programmes in education, healthcare, environmental conservation, community infrastructure and youth empowerment.
“Our sustainability initiatives continue to impact lives and strengthen communities because we believe strongly in sustainability, and we put our money where our heart is. Every year, we continue to increase our investments because creating shared value for our communities is fundamental to who we are as a business,” Alade-Akinyemi said.
He added that the company would continue to grow its operations sustainably through investments in research, innovation and initiatives that create opportunities for Nigerians while delivering value to customers, shareholders and host communities.
The HBM Nigeria chief also highlighted the economic impact of the company’s ongoing expansion projects at its Ashaka and Sagamu cement plants, noting that the projects are creating employment opportunities for both skilled and unskilled workers, particularly from host communities.
According to him, the expansion projects are expected to generate more than 100 direct jobs upon completion, alongside thousands of indirect employment opportunities across the supply chain.
He said the projects would also strengthen local contractors, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and contribute to Nigeria’s broader industrial development agenda.
Alade-Akinyemi noted that beyond expanding production capacity, the company is pursuing operational efficiency, alternative energy solutions and productivity improvements to enhance competitiveness and mitigate cost pressures.
“Our expansion is about much more than increasing production capacity. It is about creating jobs, empowering local businesses, supporting Nigerian contractors and delivering lasting economic benefits,” he said.
He reassured customers that while the company has adopted a new corporate identity, its established cement brands remain unchanged.
According to him, Elephant Cement, Unicem and Ashaka Cement will continue to retain their brand identities and quality standards despite the transition to HBM Nigeria Plc.
The company recently changed its corporate name following the global rebranding of its parent group, while maintaining its focus on cement manufacturing, infrastructure development and sustainable industrial growth in Nigeria.
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