The Chairman of Nigeria’s leading engineering construction company,
Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, and its Managing Director Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu
and Engr. Dr. Lars Richter respectively has in a joint video, celebrated
the nation’s most iconic engineering brand as the company marks its
golden jubilee as a Nigerian registered business corporation.
The year 2020 marks the 50th Anniversary since Julius Berger’s
incorporation as a Nigerian company.
According to Sunmonu, while the physical celebration has reasonably been
put on hold due to the advent, concerns, and effects of the global
COVID-19 pandemic, the company is using the occasion to acknowledge the
epoch-making milestone in the company’s history and to reflect on the
meaningful contributions Julius Berger has made to Nigeria’s
development.
The articulate chairman who strategically started his corporate career
as a First Class graduate from the prestigious Unversity of Lagos, and
who also badges the Presidential honours award, Commander of the Order
of the Niger, CON, gave particulars to the company’s contributions when
he said that Julius Berger has offered content to the nation’s
development “through the construction of durable, long-lasting buildings
and critical infrastructure, which serve as the backbone to economic
growth and daily life”. Sunmonu added that Julius Berger has also
contributed over the past 50 years “to the livelihood of one of the
largest private workforces in the country, by way of secure, long-term
employment and professional development of our staff”. This, he said,
was in addition to the company’s community development initiatives
“resulting from [Julius Berger’s] corporate social responsibility
activities in the areas of health, education and youth sports and
critical response measures enacted”.
The Chairman of Julius Berger, in his message proudly said that for the
company, no challenge has been too big, and no job has been too complex
to accomplish. He said: “Julius Berger has constructed some of Nigeria’s
most iconic structures and demanding engineering feats; project after
project, we have proven ourselves to be a reliable partner equipped with
the technical know-how and organizational edge to deliver quality
solutions”.
While stating that there is no doubt that the arrival of COVID-19 to
Nigeria brought on new and unexpected challenges, requiring sacrifices
from all as well as significant adjustments to our norms, Sunmonu,
however, confidently added that the disruptive pandemic “has also served
as an important reminder of the importance of community and the
centrality of corporate responsibility to our value system as a
company”.
Julius Berger’s Managing Director, Engr. Dr. Lars Richter, also in the
joint video further reinforced the Chairman’s message saying that “in
the face of COVID-19, [Julius Berger] has strengthened its stance as a
pillar of support to Nigeria, to the Government, to healthcare providers
and social impact institutions… and to the company’s communities through
various donations and contributions”.
In the words of the cerebral Engr. Richter who substantively holds a
Ph.D. in civil engineering, “…with innovation as a key-value we have
continued to find creative solutions, remaining quick to adapt in order
to keep delivering through remote working, increases in PPE and safety
protocols and the repurposing of resources to promote public health and
support relief measures”. Richter with palpably inspiring professional
and managerial confidence further said that: “Julius Berger at 50,
celebrates not only the past five decades of excellence achieved, but in
the context of our current circumstances, [Julius Berger] celebrates our
resiliency as a company and our unrelenting commitments to advancement
and progress – no matter the challenge”.
Richter also used the occasion to celebrate the company’s dedicated
staff, whom he described as “the core to [Julius Berger’s] continued
success”. It would be recalled that Richter, at the company’s AGM in
June, had equated the necessity to save the jobs and means of livelihood
of all Julius Berger’s workers with their right to protected and
sustainable good health. Richter in the 50th anniversary joint video
with the company’s Chairman also paid warm tribute to all of the
company’s partners, clients, host communities as well as to the
company’s faithful shareholders.
With brimming optimism, Richter said, “…This moment in our history
serves as a springboard towards the future, where we will continue
leading in local content and in innovation, for next-level solutions to
help build the country and fulfil the aspirations of our clients, staff,
partners and communities”, adding that “Julius Berger together with its
group of subsidiaries will continue to stand apart in its offerings of
made-in-Nigeria solutions that meet global standards for excellence – be
it in design and engineering, construction, port operations, windows and
doors or furniture manufacturing”.
According to the Managing Director, “…with our unwavering dedication to
excellence, partnership, and quality, we look forward to adding another
50 years to our inspirational success”.
Mr Sunmonu and Richter in unison thanked Nigerians for their trust and
support and for celebrating with Julius Berger on the company’s 50th
anniversary.
