*Says JBN Chairman Mutiu Sunmonu as the company celebrates 50th anniversary as a Nigerian registered business concern
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 that has gone viral, 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 knowhow 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 substatively holds a PhD in civil egineering, “…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.
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