In its collaborative bid geared towards developing capacity and value creation among its operating communities, Lafarge Africa Plc, a leading sub-Saharan Africa building materials company have partnered iCare Foundation for the renovation of the Anglican Nursery and Primary School, Oke-Oyinbo, Ikorodu school buildings.
Temitope Oguntokun, head, Sustainability and Corporate Brand, Lafarge Africa Plc, while explaining the rationale for the partnership, said it is a national CSR initiatives focused on giving back to the society and contributing to nation-building.
Oguntokun disclosed that the company is driven to build better cities for all and to effectively do that, the education of children who are the leaders of tomorrowis pivotal.
She added that the renovation project falls within the employee volunteering scheme of Lafarge Africa Plc and further saying that the company recognises employee volunteering – on which platform employees have dedicated over 6,300 hours in the past two years to carry out different developmental projects across Nigeria.
According to her,” The iCare Foundation volunteers and Lafarge Africa Friends of Community came together as a team to contribute to the rehabilitation of this particular school in Ikorodu”.
Jimi Benson, member of the House of Representatives, representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency and Founder, iCare Foundation commended Lafarge Africa Plc for the partnership.
Benson disclosed that the ‘back to school project’ is an ongoing venture that himself and the Foundation have been passionate about. He expressed delight for the value adding collaboration with like-minded corporate organisation like Lafarge Africa and enjoined other well meaning Nigerians and corporations to complement efforts of the government in ensuring that social amenities and infrastructure are put in place for the benefit of the masses.
“Although, the State government has the list of schools she would be rehabilitating, this doesn’t stop individuals and organisations from lending helping hands. This is the fourth cycle of school rehabilitation by iCare Foundation. It is our little way of giving back to this community as we spread the rehabilitation process and move around the schools to repair most of the damaged structure and materials before schools resume,” he said.
Acclaiming the gesture of Lafarge Africa Plc and the iCare Foundation during a courtesy visit to the monarch’s palace on the renovation project, the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, HRM, Oba Kabir Adewale Shotobi, expressed gratitude to all the parties involved and urged individuals, politicians and organisations to emulate such CSR initiatives as a way of helping in nation-building, especially the education sector and youth empowerment.
KELECHI EWUZIE
