HBM Nigeria Plc, a leading provider of innovative building solutions and manufacturer of cement, ready-mix, mortar and Plaster of Paris products, has commenced its 2026 Female Tilers and Block-Laying Training initiative, equipping 120 women across Lagos and Ogun States with practical construction skills to expand their participation and economic opportunities in the building and construction sector.
https://www.digital.zenithbank.com/ZEQ/ZEQ-jan-2026/index.html#p=1The six-week training is being implemented across three locations, with 40 women each in Ayobo and Epe in Lagos State and another 40 participants in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The Lagos component of the programme is being delivered in partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) and other relevant state stakeholders, following a joint orientation and launch held on Monday, September 21, 2026.
The beneficiaries will receive hands-on training in wall and floor tiling and block-laying, alongside sessions on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, soft skills, digital tools, business management and sustainable construction practices. The programme also covers health and safety, circular economy principles, practical project work and mentorship, with participants expected to complete capstone projects in tiling and masonry before graduating at the end of the six-week training.
Speaking on the initiative, the Director, Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development, HBM Nigeria Plc, Viola Graham-Douglas, explained that the programme reflects the company’s commitment to creating practical pathways for women to build sustainable livelihoods while addressing the gender gap in skilled construction trades.
Graham-Douglas added that the programme provides participants with exposure to entrepreneurship, financial literacy, business registration, digital skills and professional associations, helping them understand how to turn their technical skills into viable businesses and build sustainable careers.
“At HBM Nigeria Plc, we believe that skills development is one of the most practical ways to create lasting opportunities for women, particularly those from underserved communities. Through this programme, we are not only teaching women how to tile or lay blocks; we are equipping them with the technical knowledge, business skills and confidence they need to build sustainable livelihoods and participate meaningfully in an industry where women remain underrepresented,” she said.
The Female Tilers and Block-Laying Training initiative is part of HBM Nigeria’s broader corporate social responsibility efforts to equip women from underserved communities with technical, entrepreneurial and financial skills while promoting greater female participation in the construction sector. The initiative builds on the company’s previous women-focused programmes, including the BuildHer by Lafarge initiative, which trained 100 women across Lagos, Ogun and Cross River States, following an earlier cohort of 40 women.
