HBM Nigeria Plc has enrolled 120 persons with disabilities (PWDs) from Alimosho and Epe in Lagos State in its 2026 Disability to Ability (D2A) programme, aimed at equipping participants with vocational and entrepreneurial skills for economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods.
The six-week initiative, organised in partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), commenced with a joint orientation and launch on Monday, September 21, 2026.
Participants are receiving training in make-up and gele styling, wig and braids making, phone and laptop repairs, as well as shoe and bag making. The programme also incorporates entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digital skills, business management, sustainable livelihoods, circular economy and green skills to strengthen participants’ capacity to establish and manage viable businesses.
At the end of the training, participants are expected to complete practical projects and assessments before graduating, with a showcase of their work to demonstrate the skills acquired.
The Director of Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development at HBM Nigeria, Viola Graham-Douglas, said the programme was designed to equip persons with disabilities with practical competencies and business knowledge to improve their economic prospects.
She explained that the initiative reflects the company’s commitment to inclusion and its belief that disability should not prevent individuals from pursuing their economic aspirations.
“Our approach to inclusion centres on fostering an environment in which potential is recognised and developed,” Graham-Douglas said. “Through D2A, we equip participants with the practical skills and broader business knowledge needed to develop their abilities, earn a living, and participate fully in society.”
The 2026 edition builds on the programme’s 2025 cohort, which trained 100 persons with disabilities in Lagos in similar vocational trades. The previous edition was implemented in collaboration with LSETF, the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development and other partners.
HBM Nigeria Plc, formerly Lafarge Africa Plc, is a building solutions company and a member of the Huaxin Building Materials Group. It operates cement plants in Ewekoro and Sagamu in Ogun State, Ashaka in Gombe State, and Mfamosing in Cross River State, alongside ready-mix concrete facilities in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. The company has an installed cement production capacity of 10.5 million tonnes annually.
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