Fadekemi Ajakaiye

Lagos, Nigeria, Thursday, June 8, 2023 – Leading innovative and sustainable building solutions company, Lafarge Africa Plc today launched the Concrete Ideas Policy Blueprint, an analysis of insights and ideas discussed by stakeholders in the construction, infrastructure and housing industries during the first five editions of Concrete Ideas, Lafarge’s thought-leadership series.

The Policy Blueprint was written by Dr. Ayo Teriba, leading Nigerian economist and CEO of Economic Associates. The Concrete Ideas leadership series was created by the leading building solutions company to serve as a veritable platform for deliberation on issues, policies, and developments shaping Nigeria’s construction, infrastructure, and housing sectors.

Through Concrete Ideas, Lafarge Africa has over two years assembled thought leaders from the public and private sectors to deliberate on policies to promote investment and best practices in the construction and allied sectors. The platform has dissected global best practices, while showcasing the best ideas in transforming them into solutions that could sustainably solve housing, infrastructure, and environmental challenges in Nigeria and other African economies.

Leveraging its over 150 years of experience in the building materials and infrastructure space in over 70 countries, Lafarge invites international experts from within the Holcim network to share valuable insights. The Policy Blueprint is an economist’s analysis of the insights and recommendations of investors, academics and policy experts from the real estate, finance, infrastructure and housing sectors.

Speaking at the launch of the blueprint in Lagos recently, Khaled El Dokani, Country CEO, Lafarge Africa Plc, said: “We are taking a more direct approach to increasing investment in infrastructure and housing by working with the government, professional associations, public policy experts and the broader private sector to find enabling policy solutions.”

“We are grateful to all the experts and industry leaders who have actively participated and led critical policy deliberations during the last five editions of Concrete Ideas. With their inputs, we have been able to create this succinct and coherent Policy Blueprint. I hope that governments at all levels and the industry find this very useful.”

Speaking further, Dokani said: “We know that we owe a great deal to the people who have been part of these events since the beginning – the experts, public officials, professional associations and the broader private sector. Today and in line with our purpose of building progress for people and the planet, we are putting sustainability at the forefront of housing and infrastructure development, because we want to make sure that all Nigerians have access to this important information that will shape, set standards and accelerate positive change toward sustainable construction practices in the country.

Continuing, he affirmed that the company will continue to raise the bar of professional excellence in the built environment and the construction industry. “Not only are we casting a vision for promoting sustainable construction practices within the Nigerian built environment and the construction industry, but we are outlining the action steps to revitalize and grow the industry in an ethical, strategic, and future-focused way.

“By rolling up our sleeves and working together, we will continue to unlock new and innovative ways to generate best policy ideas and innovations that will foster the delivery of Nigeria’s ambitious infrastructure plans and the growth of the industry.”

The Head of Corporate Communications, Lafarge Africa Plc, Ginikanwa Frank-Durugbor said: ‘With each edition of concrete ideas, it is evident that conversation on critical and topical issues across the construction value chain require public-private partnerships and the voice and contributions of the people to solve them. Lafarge Africa needs to continue bringing these conversations to the fore, highlighting the issues, challenges and solutions that can help shape the built sector in Nigeria. We are proudly taking the lead and making it possible for these conversations to be held.’

Present at the launch event were the Management and Staff of Lafarge Africa Plc, Dr. Ayo Teriba, CEO of Economic Associates, Arc. Enyi Ben-Eboh, President of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, and Bldr. Kunle Awobodu, a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Builders.

The new policy blueprint arrives as the building solutions company’s Concrete Ideas Series enters its 6^th edition. The event which is scheduled to take place at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos on 19th of June 2023 will have two plenary sessions; The Business of Clean Energy: Opportunities for Industries and SMEs and Promoting Circular Economy through Sustainable Waste Management Practice.

Renowned experts invited to participate at the event include, Mr. Ola Oresanya, Commissioner of Environment Ogun state; Engr. Joseph S. Olayande, Acting DG, Energy Commission of Nigeria; Mr. Wassim Elhusseini, MD/CEO of Nestle Nigeria Plc; Mr. Ayo Ademilua, CEO, Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe; General Manager, Lagos State Environmental protection agency; Mr. Ibrahim Adejuwon Odunboni, MD Lagos State Waste Management Authority and other esteemed Thought Leaders.