Winner of the Woman Contractor of the Year 2014, Melanie Wituka from Suleco Company Ltd receiving her award
ARM Cement on Friday awarded the Woman Contractor of the Year 2014 Ksh. 1,000,000 worth of cement at an award ceremony that brought together key stakeholders from the construction, banking, manufacturing, academic and financial industries. Suleco Company Ltd emerged as the winner of the Woman Contractor of the Year 2014. The nominees were selected from a cross section of nation-wide candidates who sent in their applications to the NCA. The event was officiated by The Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mariam El Maawy.
Other nominees were as follows; Eunitech Engineering Ltd. were the 1st Runners up and received Kshs. 500,000 worth of roofing material from Mabati Rolling Mills. Zueda Zee Enterprises were the 2nd Runners up who received Kshs. 250,000 worth of paint from Sadolin. Short listed candidates also included; Best Building Works contractor awards went to Riza works, Best Road Works contractor went to Namunyak Ltd. and Most Inspiring Contractor went to Power Eagle Enterprises.
Speaking at this event, ARM Cement’s Managing Director, Pradeep Paunrana emphasized the need to train more young people especially women to take up jobs in the manufacturing industry. He spoke of the need for the government and others in the private sector to join in similar efforts by ensuring that quality constructors receive recognition and support in order to foster competitiveness.
The award ceremony stems from the Women Contractors’ Dinner held last year on August 15 which was a platform initiated to acknowledge and empower women contractors, as well as give them a forum to interact with their peers. The dinner had over three hundred women contractors in attendance and was presided over by Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning Ann Waiguru.
Speaking during the award ceremony, Principle Secretary Marium El Maawy stated that the Ministry want to ensure that women play their rightful role in developing this great Nation by empowering them to thrive in the lucrative construction industry and establish an active voice in the business community. This in turn will boost their careers, giving them power and control over their lives.
ARM Cement is involved in other various sponsorship programs that seek to have had a positive and sustainable impact on the social and economic well-being of the communities in which they operate in. These sponsorship programs are based on three pillars of education, health and the environment under the Rhino Cement Foundation.