Lafarge Africa : Inaugurates Community Relations Committee in Calabar

Lafarge Africa Plc demonstrates commitment to conducting its business in a responsible and ethical manner by paying attention to the society's best interests with the formation of an all encompassing Community Relations Committee (CRC) for its Mfamosing Plant, in Calabar, Cross River State. This is in alignment with the global LafargeHolcim 2030 plan for commitment to people and communities.

According to a release by the Company, the objective of setting up the committee is 'to ensure collaborative partnership for building sustainable relationship, creating a conducive operating environment for the company and proactively addressing emerging trends that impact the stakeholders'. Membership is drawn from across the primary and secondary communities as well as selected management staff from Mfamosing plant.

To achieve the set objective, the Community Relations Committee is saddled with a scope of engagement which includes periodic review of the stakeholders' mapping, regular interface with the neighbouring communities based on an engagement calendar, initiation of annual community development projects in tandem with the company's CSR Policy and to achieve shared value, monitoring of such projects for execution according to schedule and standard, and maintaining a database of projects, beneficiaries and impacts on the communities amongst others.

Speaking on the inauguration, Mfamosing Plant Manager, Thierry Tierrere, said the selection process was transparently done with the full involvement and buy in of all stakeholders. 'Each stakeholder strata validated its nominees with a letter of nomination signed by legally recognized personnel of the group/ institution/ communities' he stated. He expressed hope that the evolution of the committee 'will further demonstrate Lafarge Africa's CSR ideals and create better platform for dialogue that will cater for the interest of all the stakeholders'

Stakeholder representatives at the ceremony commended Lafarge Africa Plc for its sincerity, openness and deep sense of social responsibility demonstrated through the formation and subsequent inauguration of the Committee. They urged the company to continue the good work while pledging unrelenting support for the enduring well-being of the company. The structure of the twenty four man committee include representatives of the host LGAs, Security operatives, community leaders including youths, men and women, relevant government officials from State and Local Government levels, Non-Governmental Organizations within the communities with shared values and company representatives.

The chairmanship of the CRC will be elected by the Committee members with 2 years' tenure 2 years and on a rotatory basis, while the Secretary shall be the Mfamosing Plant Community Relations Manager.