Improve Abilities in Work and Excel Through Challenges

Rafael Umerkong

Joined CNBM in 2022

Account Manager of Product Sales Department of SINOMA Nigeria Co., Ltd.

Raphael, a 30 year-old handsome and talented  young man from Nigeria, joined SINOMA-FABCOM in March 2022 as a customer manager in the product sales department. Since his arrival, Raphael has demonstrated unwavering dedication to his work, quickly establishing himself as one of the best sales executives at FABCOM, and a “star” of the company.

Born on November 1, 1993, Raphael graduated from Akwa Ibom State University in 2020 with a degree in political science. His early career included positions as a Commissioner of Administration and a clerk, but faced with limited income and growing life pressures, he made the difficult decision to resign from these jobs. Motivated to create a better future for himself and his family, Raphael sought opportunities in a more promising field. By chance, he became part of a FABCOM's family in Nigeria. Determined to pursue his dreams, Raphael embarked on a journey of continuous learning and practical experience from the moment he joined the company. His proactive attitude enabled him to quickly integrate into the team and adapt well to his new role. As a local employee who understand well about Nigerian culture, he swiftly moved up from an ordinary factory worker to a customer manager in the sales department.

Raphael's unwavering determination and passion for continuous learning impressed everyone when he first joined FABCOM. He eagerly immersed himself in learning theoretical knowledge in production and sales from Chinese teachers. Recognizing the importance of effective communication, he took the initiative to learn Chinese to facilitate better interaction with his teachers. During his theoretical studies, he sought guidance from Chinese staff, relentlessly striving to comprehend technical principles and professional terminology. From initially being unfamiliar with production equipment, raw materials, and colored stone tile products, Raphael's strong sense of responsibility drove him to continuously enhance his technical expertise and practical skills. He seized every opportunity to expand his knowledge, not only for himself but also to foster exchange with fellow colleagues. "Learning is a ladder of progress," Raphael emphasized. "There is always more to learn." He maintains the habit of carrying a notebook, diligently recording encountered challenges and referring back to them for continual improvement. To conduct thorough market research and promote roofing products,Raphael embarked on journeys to various regions of Abuja. To ensure timely and high-quality completion of sales targets, he diligently worked overtime and negotiated business deals with diverse distributors,real estate developers, and engineers.Through persistent efforts, he achieved remarkable results in sales.

Furthermore, he holds deep aspirations and ideals in his work, saying "My greatest desire is to approach my job with utmost dedication. As a sales account manager, I ensure that every roofing product meets stringent quality standards and is promptly delivered to customers, striving for 100% customer satisfaction. These products and equipment are like my children, and I need to take good care of them and ensure their healthy growth."

Raphael's dedication and accomplishments since joining FABCOM have earned him widespread praise and recognition. He has risen from being an ordinary salesman in the factory to becoming a customer manager in the product sales department. This promotion reflects the high recognition for his past achievements and provides him with the opportunity to delve deeper into his responsibilities. Today, he is an indispensable andvalued member of the Sales Department, fully recognized for his contributions. Raphael views FABCOM as a place of immense opportunities. He has acquired a wealth of new knowledge, forged meaningful friendships, and earned a substantial income. Every moment spent in this team holds significant value to him. He has overcome spatial and cultural barriers in the company, and together with his Chinese colleagues, they have formed a tight-knit team, akin to a family. Their collective efforts aim to create a brighter future for FABCOM. His current position not only validates his professional abilities, but also serves as a source of personal inspiration. Raphael takes great pride in the progress of the company’s construction projects in Nigeria and worldwide, and he feels honored to contribute to these endeavors. Moving forward, he is committed to continuing his hard work, collaborating with the company to improve living conditions and create better opportunities for Nigerians.

Personal Insights

I love CBMI and my work. I can not become an excellent customer manager without the support of the company, I will continue to work hard and strive for new achievements, live up to the excellent platform provided by the company, and work for company’s future development and my personal dreams.

02

歐碧阿格里·克里蒙蒂娜·亨肖

2015年加入中國建材

現任中材建設尼日利亞有限公司

人力資源經理

歐碧畢業于天津大學中文系

 A Devoted HR Manager

Obiageri Clementina Henshaw

Joined CNBM in 2015

The HR Manager of SINOMA Nigeria Co., Ltd.

Obiageri C. Henshaw, a candid HR manager at CBMI Nigeria, is an inquisitive person. She graduated from the Chinese Department of Tianjin University and later studied at the School of International Relations at Nankai University. Two years later, she successfully obtained her master's degree. She joined SINOMA International in 2015 and devoted herself to work with "a grateful heart". According to her, she "quickly received appreciation and support from people around her, thanks to her selfless dedication."

"As the HR manager of the company, my top priority has always been to foster the local employees' will to work and inspire passion in them, which is also crucial for the development of the company in Nigeria. From the perspective of localization, I think we can find and train more local young talents to join our team. By offering them professional training and highlighting the company's strategic guidance, they can gradually understand and accept the company's development strategy." When talking about her job, Obi shows her expertise and gives a lot of details.

For eight years, she has been working diligently,managing her tasks in an orderly manner, such as processing HR files, labor contracts, HR information statistics, and job interviews, etc. “The deeper the well, the sweeter the water.” The Nigerian proverb has inspired her to proactively fulfill the duties of her position, assume the responsibility of helping other departments improve their HR work, and provide timely information, policies, and feasible suggestions and make a positive contribution to the work efficiency of the departments. Meanwhile, she also uses her advantage as a local to provide services for different departments of the company and serves as a helpful assistant to the management team, especially in handling external communications and liaising with the police departments, immigration offices, and departments of labor that handle corporate affairs. Her endeavor has facilitated related work.

During the development and maintenance of public relations, Obiageri C. Henshaw not only provides service with enthusiasm, but also conveys SINOMA's culture and values to the local people in Nigeria. She promotes the company's products to the locals through Instagram, Linkedin, and Facebook, building SINOMA brand awareness among Nigerian people. "Whenever there is a problem, there is basically nothing Obiageri C. Henshaw can't communicate and solve as long as she is present," her colleagues said, "As a foreign employee, her hard work and professionalism have earned her the respect she deserves."

"The Ogun River is not alone. She has many sister rivers." Obiageri C. Henshaw knows the power and magic of teamwork. She strictly complies with the arrangements of her superiors at work and

coordinates with other departments to improve the overall efficiency of the company. Just as the Ogun River runs uninterruptedly towards the Atlantic Ocean, Obiageri C. Henshaw and her team never give up on their goals. "I am very thankful to God for giving me this opportunity and the friends," she said, "they have made me understand a lot of Chinese wisdom and allowed me to learn about the unknown and collaboration in an environment like this." Obiageri C. Henshaw answered the author's questions in a frank and confident manner.

In her everyday work and life, she has felt the profoundness of Chinese culture and the harmonious atmosphere of the company. "I've been always inspired by my Chinese colleagues' positive attitude and their diligent and down-to-earth work ethic. Under their influence, I quickly adjusted to thecompany's pace and have achieved great career development here. I am grateful that the company has given me this platform where I found my own life.Surrounded by Chinese language, my children can also speak some Chinese. And even my neighborswould occasionally greet me in Chinese. Chinese culture has become a part of my life," said Obiageri C. Henshaw in fluent Chinese.

As a western proverb says, "It’s easier for peole living under the same roof to shake hands." Due to the strong Chinese educational background, Obiageri C. Henshaw can understand the work attitudes and thinking styles of Chinese people. She helps others understand Chinese culture and learns to be dedicated in her work. Out of her love for Chinese culture, she teaches Chinese language and culture to local staff twice a week, which is helpful for cultural communication and allows employees to have a better understanding of their Chinese colleagues. This can also create a platform for knowledge and skill improvement, which is a crucial element for effective communication.

When people praise her work and what she's done, she always responds with a humble smile and says, "It is my honor to serve such an outstanding company. And as an employee, it is my duty to do so. My effort may help people know the company better."

Talking about future work, Obiageri C. Henshaw has unshakeable confidence. "SINOMA is an international

leading cement company. CBMI Nigeria has deep roots in Nigeria. I will continuously improve my comprehensive abilities and encourage more excellent local Nigerian employees to join the company. I will also promote the company's roof system products and contribute to the company's local development. I'll continue to contribute my efforts and wisdom to the company's high-quality development."

Personal  Insights

I have been with the company for eight years, and my love for the company has grown day by day. CBMI is an international leader in the cement industry. CBMI Nigeria has been developing on a strong footing locally. I love my work. Going forward, I will continue to work with other local employees to promote our company and contribute to the company's localized development.