Mediatrix Development Foundation, in partnership with Lafarge Africa Plc, successfully completed the Welding and Fabrication Training Programme for 20 beneficiaries drawn from Lafarge’s host communities. As part of Lafarge’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment, the initiative was designed to equip young people with practical, industry-relevant skills that promote employability, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods. The beneficiaries were selected from ten host communities — Mfamosing, Abiati, Akansoko, EkongAnaku, Kasuk, Diamond, Obutong, Odukpani, Essien Town, and Akwa Ikot Effanga  ensuring inclusive participation and strengthened local capacity across the operational areas.

The programme combined structured classroom instruction with intensive hands-on workshop practice. Its objectives included engaging beneficiaries in the fabrication and installation of steel frames for building structures, ensuring high-quality welding in compliance with international safety standards, completing workshop projects within allocated timelines, conducting continuous assessments and examinations, and resolving transportation challenges to guarantee consistent participation. The first semester curriculum covered a broad range of subjects including Algebra and Trigonometry, Communication and Letter Writing, Computer Studies, Health, Safety and Environmental Rules, Risk Management, Introduction to Cement Technology, Motivation and Goal Setting in Entrepreneurship, and core technical modules such as Basic Elements of Welding, Welding Processes, Machine Tools, Machine Parts, Sheet Metal Work, and Welding Measurement and Marking.

In the workshop, beneficiaries progressively built their technical competence through practical exercises that strengthened both precision and confidence. They were trained in lathe machine operations to shape wood and metal into cylindrical forms, filing techniques for smooth finishing, and surface preparation using angle grinders to ensure high-quality welds. Each trainee operated a drilling machine to produce a metal component for securing personal lockers, symbolizing their growing independence and skill mastery. Additional competencies included gas cutting, gas welding, grinding, and metal joining, with supervisors conducting visual inspections to ensure strict compliance with safety and quality control standards. The semester culminated in continuous assessments and examinations, alongside group fabrication projects where trainees constructed an office desk, a staircase and storage platform, metal and wooden racks, and clamps within the designated timeframe.

Beyond training, the initiative took a further step to ensure long-term impact and sustainability. Upon successful completion of the programme, all beneficiaries were empowered with the essential tools and starter equipment required to establish their own welding businesses. This support bridges the gap between skill acquisition and income generation, positioning the trainees not just as certified fabricators but as emerging entrepreneurs capable of contributing meaningfully to infrastructure development and economic growth within their communities. Through this partnership, Mediatrix Development Foundation and Lafarge Africa Plc continue to demonstrate their commitment to empowering host communities and creating lasting pathways for self-reliance and prosperity.