provide us with the opportunity to reduce waste, resulting in long-term cost savings, and foster safer work environment by drastically reducing staff injuries that result in lost time. Apart from that, automation allows us to maintain an edge in a highly competitive business sector. For instance, our innovative acumen was at play as we significantly improved our customer experience with the incorporation of banking integration with sales automation. This move not only markedly improve staff value addition, but also optimizes our product delivery to customers. How do you see the future of the cement industry in Nigeria and Africa, and more broadly supporting Nigeria’s economic growth, and what role will BUA Cement play in that future? The outlook for the cement industry in Nigeria remains bright, considering the massive investments witnessed in the industry over the past decade, which shows no signs of slowing down. Our investments in new production lines to cater for the growing market needs have created positive gains for the country in terms of contribution to the GDP and employment opportunities for our people. Looking ahead, BUA is determined to leverage the yet untapped opportunities within the African Continental Free Trade Agreement to expand its market reach and increase revenue generation for the government as the country moves towards self-sufficiency in cement production. Nigeria has a huge infrastructure deficit and will continue to need cement to build and maintain its social infrastructure. Can you share some of the corporate social responsibility initiatives that BUA Cement is involved in? BUA Cement operates in two locations in Nigeria. As a responsible corporate entity, we are consistently engaging with our local stakeholders to proactively identify their needs and priorities, and simultaneously charting up ways to address them pragmatically. Our corporate social responsibility initiatives are synchronous with United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) and focus on five key thematic areas, namely education, livelihood empowerment, infrastructure, health and sanitation. Aligning with our core values, we are determined to ensure a targeted and effective approach to community development. Nonetheless, BUA Cement is enthusiastic about fostering a culture of accountability and trust with our stakeholders to achieve mutual growth. How do you foster a culture of excellence and continuous improvement within BUA Cement? I would say that the culture of excellence and continuous improvement we have championed has been the epitome of our cultural transformation in the past years. My approach to fostering cultural shift was embedded in the active participation of our employees. From the moment of engagement, a new employee passes through a regimented integration process which ideally sets the groundwork for their productivity by getting them up to speed on the organization’s culture and guidelines. Every member of staff understands that improvement is a key part of their job and should be given utmost priority while taking responsibility for their actions. As a leader, I strive to set the tone for my team members showcasing a strong work ethic and dedication to achieving our collective goals. Of course, our journey would not have been possible without aptly enabling technology, investing in CEO Today Africa Awards 2024 - NIGERIA - “The outlook for the cement industry in Nigeria remains bright, considering the massive investments witnessed in the industry over the past decade, which shows no signs of slowing down.”
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