HBM Nigeria, AEF train women in fashion designing

HBM Nigeria Plc, in partnership with the Awesome Empowerment Foundation, has graduated participants from a fashion design training programme. They also gave each participant an industrial sewing machine and a starter kit.

 According to a statement, the cement and building solutions firm and the foundation held the graduation ceremony in Lagos on Wednesday. The event marked the end of a three-month full-time practical training programme. The participants learnt basic fashion design and tailoring skills through weekly six-hour classes.

 All the participants received starter kits, including industrial sewing machines, to help them set up their businesses and apply their new skills. The organisers said the gesture would promote self-reliance and economic empowerment.

 The Director, Corporate Relations, HBM Nigeria Plc, Viola Graham-Douglas, urged the beneficiaries to use their skills to build businesses, attract customers and create opportunities for others.

 She also advised them to use social media to reach customers beyond their immediate communities. She said social media could take their designs beyond their streets, friends and families to a wider market.

 The Director, Corporate Relations, HBM Nigeria Plc, Viola Graham-Douglas, said, “We want you to use this opportunity to impact your lives, support your families and grow your businesses.

This is just the beginning of your journey, and we look forward to hearing greater things about you. Let quality be your watchword, alongside timely delivery. When you give your customers quality work and deliver on time, they will keep coming back and referring others to you.”

 The Chief Executive Officer, Awesome Empowerment Foundation, Omotola Bamigbaiye, said the partnership with HBM Nigeria reflected a shared commitment to equipping individuals with practical skills and resources to achieve economic independence.

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 The Chief Executive Officer, Awesome Empowerment Foundation, Omotola Bamigbaiye, said, “Through this partnership, we are creating an opportunity for beneficiaries to turn their skills into sustainable sources of income. Our goal is not just to train them, but to provide the support and resources they need to build businesses, become financially independent, and contribute meaningfully to their communities.”

 A beneficiary, Zainab Muhammed, commended HBM Nigeria and the foundation for the opportunity to acquire fashion design skills. She also thanked them for the equipment that will help her start her entrepreneurial journey.

 The initiative underscores HBM Nigeria’s commitment to creating social impact through strategic partnerships and community-focused interventions. The company said it would continue to contribute to inclusive community development and empower individuals with the skills and resources to build sustainable livelihoods.

 HBM Nigeria Plc, formerly Lafarge Africa Plc, is a member of the Huaxin Building Materials Group, which was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in Wuhan, China.

 The company, listed on the Nigerian Exchange Limited, has cement manufacturing plants in Ewekoro and Sagamu, Ogun State; Ashaka, Gombe State; and Mfamosing, Cross River State. It also operates ready-mix concrete facilities in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, with an installed annual cement production capacity of 10.5 million tonnes.