Lafarge Africa Plc has restated its commitment to gender inclusion, workplace diversity, and women’s empowerment via a celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD) in Lagos, under the theme, “Bold and Built: Mastering the Art of Balance to Thrive at Work and at Home.”
The event brought together accomplished leaders, professionals and executives, who shared their experiences, discussed workplace challenges, and explored strategies for achieving career success while maintaining personal well-being.
With engaging panel discussions, insightful keynote speeches, and interactive sessions, the gathering provided a platform for knowledge-sharing and professional development.
Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Lafarge Africa, Lolu Alade Akinyemi, reinforced the company’s commitment to gender inclusion, stating: “At Lafarge, we are very proud of our strides and commitment to gender equality.
It’s not a cliche, with every opportunity, we walk the talk. We have set clear targets for gender diversity, particularly in managerial positions, and we continue to make great strides to ensure women have equitable opportunities to thrive.”
Senior Partner, The Venture Capital Firm TLCOM, Dr Omobola Johnson, in a fireside chat, shared invaluable insights on work-life balance and career growth, emphasising the importance of long-term perspective in managing responsibilities.
“You can have it all, but not at the same time. Work-life balance is not something you achieve daily – it is something that balances out over time. Prioritisation is key. Ask yourself, ‘Will I regret doing this or regret not doing it?’ and let that guide your decisions,” she advised.
Co-founder of Sahara Energy, Tonye Cole, delivered a keynote speech addressing the systematic challenges women face in society, particularly regarding inheritance rights, workplace biases, and leadership opportunities.
He stressed the need for inclusive policies, proactive advocacy, and the critical role of male allies in driving gender equality.
Cole highlighted that diversity is not just a corporate metric, but a catalyst for innovation and sustainable progress.
“You need to have more women in the boardroom, in decision-making. They make a big difference as to how it is done. The lens that women look out of is totally different. It took a woman to point out to me as CEO that we were doing something wrong, and I didn’t believe it – until I saw the reality,” he stated.
