GEODRILL AND X&M – Rising Up Rugby in Ivory Coast: Nominee for the Excellence in Social Development, 2025 Africa Award

About the Nominee & their Nomination

• Established in 1998, Geodrill is a leading exploration drilling company with 102 rigs across Africa and South America. Services include Reverse Circulation, Diamond Core, Deep Directional Navi Drilling, Air-Core, Grade Control, Geo-Tech, and Water Borehole drilling.

Headquartered in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, X&M Suppliers is an African industrial and safety supplies company that integrates distribution, logistics, procurement and manufacturing.

• Women’s rugby and youth sports in Côte d’Ivoire faced poor visibility, limited infrastructure, and a lack of sponsorship. Geodrill and X&M worked to overcome this through sport. They jointly sponsored the 8th National CRAC Rugby Tournament in Songun in April 2024 and the inaugural Bouaké Regional CRAC Tournament in October 2024.

• The approach was designed to promote inclusive community development, with a focus on youth and women in rural areas. Not only did Geodrill and X&M’s strategy support Environmental Social Governance (ESG) values and a long-term commitment to human capital, but it also aligned with ICMM 10 principles, particularly: ethical governance, stakeholder engagement, health & wellbeing, human rights & diversity, and social development. 

• The sponsorship of the first Bouaké Regional Rugby Tournament (Tournoi Régional du CRAC – TRC) reflects a deliberate effort to foster long-term, inclusive engagement with the local community beyond the context of mining services. The initiative was designed in close coordination with the local rugby associations, schools, and community leaders. Through this initiative, Geodrill and X&M demonstrated that private sector support for sport can be a trusted and sustainable mechanism for community engagement.

• By embedding sustainability into partnerships, the initiative not only addressed gaps in access to sport but also built long-term community trust and development opportunities across regions. The initiative broke down gender stereotypes, empowered stronger family cohesion, and supported government priorities on youth, gender, and decentralisation. The focus on young athletes built a pipeline for long-term participation in sport, leadership, and even vocational pathways linked to health, education, and community service. Through Geodrill and X&M’s support, the Lvolution Academy, which namely supports Taekwondo, won more than 140 medals, allowing Ivorian athletes to travel worldwide for competitions.