HBM Nigeria Plc has commenced the 2026 edition of its Disability to Ability (D2A) programme, targeting 120 persons with disabilities in Lagos State for vocational and entrepreneurial training.

The six-week initiative, implemented in partnership with the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), is designed to equip participants from Alimosho and Epe with practical skills to support self-employment, sustainable livelihoods and greater participation in the workforce.

The programme began with a joint orientation and launch on September 21, 2026. Participants are receiving training in make-up and gele, wig and braids making, phone and laptop repairs, as well as shoe and bag production.

Beyond vocational training, the programme includes sessions on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, digital skills, business management, sustainable livelihoods, the circular economy and green skills.

Participants are expected to complete practical projects and assessments before showcasing their work at a graduation event.

HBM Nigeria’s Director of Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainable Development, Viola Graham-Douglas, said the initiative reflected the company’s belief that disability should not prevent individuals from achieving their economic goals.

She explained that the programme combines practical training with business knowledge to help participants develop their abilities, earn a living and participate more fully in society.

According to her, the initiative seeks to create an inclusive environment where individual potential is recognised and developed, while providing participants with skills that can support long-term economic independence.

The 2026 edition builds on the company’s previous efforts to promote inclusion and economic empowerment among persons with disabilities.

In 2025, the programme trained 100 persons with disabilities across Lagos in phone and laptop repairs, make-up and gele, wig and braids making, and shoe and bag production.

That edition was implemented in partnership with LSETF, the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, and other stakeholders.

The expansion to 120 participants this year reflects the company’s continued focus on vocational development and inclusive economic participation.

HBM Nigeria Plc, formerly known as Lafarge Africa Plc, is a Nigerian building solutions company and a member of the Huaxin Building Materials Group. Its operations include cement manufacturing and ready-mix concrete services.

The company said its skills development initiatives form part of its broader efforts to support economic empowerment and create opportunities for people to contribute productively to society.