Julius Berger Nigeria Plc marked this year’s World Humanitarian Day Monday with visitation to All Saints Orphanage, Palm Grove Estate, Lagos where sundry items including foodstuffs and cash were donated to the management and children of the Home.
World Humanitarian Day is an international day dedicated to recognize humanitarian personnel, caregivers and victims of humanitarian crisis. According to the United Nations, the theme for World Humanitarian Day 2022 is #ItTakesAVillage. The theme is built upon the metaphor, ‘It takes a village to raise a child”, which contributes greatly to socio-economic progress.
In her remarks, Founder of the Orphanage, Rev (Mrs.) Dele George expressed her excitement at the donations to the Home by Julius Berger Nigeria saying that it represents the best the Orphanage has received in recent times. “This is one of the best donations we have received. Everybody knows how food has become very expensive, but God has been faithful using people and organisations like Julius Berger to bless us. We are happy that on this day of World charity we are receiving these generous and reassuring donations from Julius Berger.” She assured Julius Berger that the donations would be used for the welfare of the children of the Home, adding that, “…we recognize and commend Julius Berger for all the good works they do. We are happy today that we have also become one of the recipients of Julius Berger’s compassionate corporate social responsibility initiatives.”
Rev (Mrs.) Dele George said that the Home was founded in 1994, and currently has 150 children in four Homes across Lagos and three other locations in Warri, Itele and Agbara, saying that, “…it is a Christian community organisation and the first private orphanage to be registered in Lagos State.” She added that, so far, in the over 25 years of the orphanage’s existence, over 1000 children and 350 adopted children (Nigeria and from abroad) have passed through the Orphanage. She also revealed that out of the Orphanage has successfully emerged over 100 university graduates who are doing well out there in the society.
On his part, the head of Corporate Communications of Julius Berger Plc, James Agama said that showing care and being humanitarian to people, communities and organizations such as Little Saints Orphanage is part of the corporate culture of the engineering construction company. He admonished the Founder and management of the Orphanage to continue to take good care of the children because as caregivers, God will always have a way to reward them richly. Julius Berger’s Team lead, Engr. (Mrs) Rasheedat Anifowoshe later presented a cheque donation of N500,000 to the Founder of the Home for the beneficial use of the Orphanage.
The United Nations World Humanitarian Day is a campaign by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), which ensures that whenever and wherever people are in crisis around the globe, there are others who are available to help them.
In line with extant rules and regulations guiding the operations of Orphanages, the excited children were not made part of the photo sessions at the event even as they sang praises of Julius Berger Nigeria all through.
HOW NIGERIA, POLAND CAN HAVE A WIN-WIN RELATIONSHIP, BY PRESIDENT BUHARI
Nigeria and Poland on Tuesday in Abuja signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Agriculture, while pledging their willingness to enlarge the fields of economic cooperation in the energy and manufacturing sectors.
The signing took place during the State Visit of President Andrezej Duda of Poland, the first by a Polish leader to Nigeria since the establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries in 1961.
Addressing a joint press conference with the visiting Head of State, President Buhari said Nigeria is gratified by the existing fruitful cooperation with Poland in the fields of maritime, education and defence.
On agriculture, which is one of the priority areas of the Nigerian government, the President said cooperation in this area will be a win-win for the two countries, especially in the context of global food insecurity occasioned by the conflict in Ukraine.
He noted that in view of the numerous global challenges, Nigeria would like to develop new mechanisms for cooperation including regular strategic dialogues and political consultations to cover not only bilateral relations but also to address regional and international issues.
‘‘Our cooperation in education has a long history and we wish to encourage the extension of that cooperation to the sharing of knowledge and experience between our educational institutions in areas such as science and technology as well as Information and Communication Technology, in order to help drive innovation in our countries in this competitive global knowledge economy,’’ the Nigerian leader said.
Describing the two-day visit of the Polish President as significant, underscoring the cordial relations that exist between both countries, President Buhari commended the efforts of the Government of Poland in providing assistance to the large number of refugees fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, including a significant number of Nigerians.
‘‘I also wish to express our sincere gratitude for the kind and generous support extended during our government’s evacuation of our fleeing nationals.
‘‘We also appreciate greatly the opportunity given to some of our nationals to remain in Poland to continue with their studies.
‘‘As regards trade relations, we would like to see an increase in the level of trade, as it remains relatively low in spite of the long period of relations between our two countries,’’ he said.
The Nigerian leader welcomed the hosting of a Dialogue that will bring together various members of the business sectors of Nigeria and Poland, during the State Visit, adding that it is an excellent initiative to increase the level of trade between both countries.
Duda said Nigeria was the only African country Poland has signed an agreement of strategic dialogue with, which includes the MoU on agriculture cooperation.
‘‘What was pivotal in our conversation today both in our tete-a-tete as well as the plenary session was how to provide food and energy security.
‘‘It is important to us to strengthen the relations between Poland and Nigeria and the MOU we have signed is very important for the future of both nations on food security,’’ the Polish president said through an interpreter.
On energy security, he lauded the delivery of liquefied natural gas to Poland from Nigeria, as well as shipments of crude oil.
‘‘We want to further this cooperation and we want to increase the supplies from Nigeria to Poland and by this way we want to contribute to the development of economic cooperation between the two countries,’’ he said.
President Duda noted that Nigeria and Poland have enjoyed excellent bilateral relations in the last 60 years, buoyed at the people-to-people level with the presence of many Nigerians at Polish higher institutions of learning as well as the input of Polish engineers and scientists in the building of infrastructure in Nigeria.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 6, 2022
PRESS STATEMENT
PDP remains pathetic with unedifying mirror image
Jolted by its unedifying mirror image as lucidly presented to Nigerians by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate over the weekend, the Peoples Democratic Party yesterday descended in its response, into the pit of hatred and abuses .
Tinubu’s offence was that he reminded the PDP of its 16 years of cash and carry government which left the mess that the APC government has been clearing.
Asiwaju Tinubu had queried the moral basis for PDP’s plot to return to power eight years after leaving thousands of uncompleted projects and commitments in trillions of Naira.
The APC presidential candidate said a party still battling with leadership crisis and without a legacy of visionary planning has no place in Nigeria’a future.
Uncompleted projects abandoned by the PDP administration include the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Abuja-Kaduna railway and the Second Niger Bridge. PDP left undone railroads, roads, power and ports that signalled a prostrate economy and a socially disoriented country.
The APC presidential candidate contrasted the PDP era with seven years of the APC government and its plans for the future.
“They spent 16 years and forgot that there is a railway infrastructure that can do haulage, human carriage, animal and food carriage across the length and breadth of the country”, Tinubu said.
“They (PDP) got there and turned it to an incubator. I wonder why they still exist as a party. These are people still fighting for leadership of their party, looking for the direction of the compass. We are not equal at all; we are smarter. We know the road; let them follow.
“We are not just the ones to hurl abuses and insults at our rivals’ party. We don’t need it. We are smarter; we are brilliant; we are courageous; we are not like them,” Tinubu said.
Instead of the intensely incapacitated PDP to respond to the clear issues raised by Tinubu, the party abandoned all decorum and hurled personal abuses at him. This is usually the trademark of a party that has nothing to offer the people. No decent person expects PDP to do better though. The party and its leaders were clueless as ruling party and still rudderless in opposition.
We have had cause in the past to state our objective in the 5-month campaign leading to the 25 February, 2023 presidential election not to trade personal insults. Our party and our presidential candidate will focus on issues that are important to improving the quality of life of Nigerians.
The PDP has again demonstrated that it has nothing to offer to better the lives of our people just like it’s sordid past in government. PDP only wants to keep its floundering campaign alive by engaging in groundless muckraking.
PDP and its ever clueless leaders did more shameful things, by declaring falsely that the governing party was dead, when they know it is the party that they needed to beat to realise the inordinate ambition of their perennial candidate and perennially failed Atiku Abubakar.
PDP as a party was not satisfied with this lie as it launched a chapter from its propaganda playbook that the APC government has achieved nothing when our administration’s stellar achievements are there for even the blind to see.
Let us make it clear to the PDP: the current APC government has many achievements to be proud of unlike the PDP that squandered and plundered Nigeria’s resources and could not even deliver a simple Second Niger bridge to the people of South East, that have always delivered votes for it since 1999. To the shame of PDP and eternal credit to APC, President Muhammadu Buhari will commission the bridge this year.
Also this year, President Buhari will complete the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, abandoned for 16 years by the PDP.
Among its many laudable achievements, the current APC-led government has to its credit Lagos-Ibadan, Warri-Itakpe rail network and over 13, 000 kilometres of roads, including bridges at different stages of completion across the country. This contrasted with the PDP years when in its first 10 years spent N633 billion on roads no one can see.
The Buhari administration has completed no fewer than five airports and will take the credit for ensuring that the $17 billion Dangote refinery and petrochemical complex and the $3billion Lekki Deep Sea Port are accomplished.
President Buhari can point to unprecedented investments in agriculture through the Anchor Borrowers scheme for rice, maize, cotton and others. Under the APC-led administration, Nigeria became the biggest producer of rice in Africa and cut down Nigeria’s rice and food import bill significantly.
Nigeria remains net producer of maize, sesame, yam, millet, cashew and sorghum on the back of the life changing investments in agriculture by the Buhari administration. The APC government completed over 200 dams and Irrigation projects to help farmers plant throughout the year. In 2021, Nigeria produced 23 million tonnes of maize according to Maize Farmers Association.
The Buhari government will be eternally remembered for its unprecedented social investment programme that has reduced poverty in the land and given hope to millions of vulnerable homes.
Do we need to remind the PDP of the shame it wore as badge of honour every Christmas during its 16 years of mis-governance when Nigerians were made to queue to buy petrol. This ugly spectacle at the pumps disappeared in the last seven years.
Doubtless, our party and candidates acknowledge the new challenges of insecurity and the economy. These are being confronted squarely by the Buhari administration.
The incoming APC government as Tinubu revealed is already strategising on how to deal with the problems, as governing is a continuum.
Bayo Onanuga
Director, Media & Publicity
APC Presidential Campaign Council
PRESS RELEASE
OUR DOORS ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS, SANWO-OLU TELLS AMERICAN INVESTORS
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described Africa as the next destination for global business, with Lagos being the convergence point.
He said the economic position of the State, the innovative youth population and the conducive environment provided by the government are what makes Lagos the destination of choice for many investors who have set up businesses in Nigeria.
Sanwo-Olu spoke during a dinner organized by Del-York International in his honour at the Intercontinental Hotel in Washington DC, United States of America on Monday evening, with the theme: investment opportunities in Lagos, Africa’s largest economy.
The governor listed technology, infrastructure, renewable energy and entertainment as areas that remain fertile for serious investors to look at, saying that there is a guaranteed return on investments in these for those coming to invest in the State.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, while responding to the questions on security in Nigeria, said Lagos is the most secure State in the country, noting that it is one of the major reasons why investors are looking towards the State, promising the audience that his government will continue to make the State inhabitable for criminal minds.
In his opening remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of Del-York International Mr. Linus Idahosa said there is no other place for investment at this time than Lagos State, given the many infrastructural projects embarked upon by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration to create a good and conducive business environment for investors.
He said: “Without any equivocation, Lagos is the best and safest place for investment at this period. I’m saying this not because we have the Governor of the State here but because it is the fact. Lagos is the biggest economic hub of Africa and the government is working to ensure a safe environment for investments.”
Speaking on the change being experienced in Africa, Mr. Steve Hayes, President of Corporate Council on Africa, U.S.A said unlike a few decades ago, Nigeria has started attracting a number of investments from Nigerians living in the United States. He pointed out that this will encourage investors in the real sectors in America to look at the direction of the country.
Other speakers touched on the issues of security and negative perceptions of Nigeria as being portrayed by foreign media, as one of the major factors militating against investment attraction in Nigeria.
On his part, Governor Sanwo-Olu allayed the fears of the investors, urging them to look at the brighter side of the country.
The business dinner, which was moderated by Africa-American broadcaster Williams Armstrong had over forty American investors in attendance.
SIGNED
GBOYEGA AKOSILE
CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY
06 SEPTEMBER 2022
PRESS RELEASE
LASWARCO To Represent Nigeria At 7th International Water Regulators Forum
The Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission (LASWARCO) has been invited to represent Nigeria at the 7th International Water Regulators Forum (IWRF) slated to hold in Copenhagen, Denmark from September 14 to 15, 2022.
According to the schedule of proceedings at the forum, the Executive Secretary of LASWARCO, Mrs. Funke Adepoju is to set the scene as Chair of the first session with the theme: “Except in cases of force majeure: The impact of environmental and social disruptions on economic regulation. Who should bear the costs of incremental risk?”
Discussants at the session are Vera Eiro, President of the Board of Water and Waste Water Services Regulation Authority, Portugal who is to speak on: “Drought as a force majeure event in concession agreements: The role of the regulator”; and Gabor Kisvardai, Head of Secretariat at Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Authority, who is listed to speak on: “How to be certain in an uncertain environment? – The Hungarian regulatory experience.”
The IWRF is the international meeting of the global network of regulators under the auspices of the International Water Association (IWA) which has the vision to ensure that water is wisely, sustainably, and equitably managed.
In a statement, Adepoju said LASWARCO was delighted to represent Nigeria at the forum which is a gathering of high-level representatives of regulatory authorities and officials of agencies with regulatory and supervisory functions over the provision of water, sanitation, and water management services.
“For us at LASWARCO, we welcome this invitation and it is clearly a testament to the fact that the world is noticing the regulatory reforms being championed in Lagos State under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in line with the THEMES Agenda to transform the water regulatory landscape.
“The fact remains that regulation is sacrosanct towards ensuring equitable access to water, safeguarding the health of residents, and protecting the environment. This point came to the fore at the recently concluded 3rd Lagos International Water Conference (LIWAC 2022) approved by Mr. Governor through which extensive deliberations were made on the centrality of regulation in unlocking investments and sustainable access to clean water and sanitation services.
“Without doubt, the lessons at the IWRF will further help to accentuate regulatory initiatives that will result in better outcomes in favour of the people,” Adepoju said.
The 7th IWRF is a key feature of the IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition 2022, and the theme this year is: “Regulating Water Services in Times of Increasing Natural, Social and Economic Uncertainty.”
PRESIDENT BUHARI CONGRATULATES BRITISH PRIME MINISTER, LIZ TRUSS
On behalf of the citizens and Government of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates the new Prime Minister of Britain, Liz Truss, on her assumption of this trusted position of leadership.
The President rejoices with the former Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom, whose antecedents in government, politics and diplomacy will further shape and strengthen relations with Nigeria and other nations.
He affirms that the shared ties between Nigeria and Britain remains strong, positive and mutually beneficial, while working with Prime Minister Liz Truss to deepen that relationship in the interest of both countries.
President Buhari appreciates the warmth and friendliness of the immediate past Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, wishing him the best in his future endeavours.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 6, 2022
WE’LL COLLABORATE WITH MORE INDUSTRY PLAYERS TO GROW CREATIVE SECTOR IN LAGOS, SAYS SANWO-OLU
- Gov visits Trilith studios ahead of Lagos film city project
Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has pledged the continuation of his administration’s support for the creative industry in the State.
Sanwo-Olu applauds the tenacity and doggedness of the Nigerian creative artists and entertainers, for creating a growth path for the sector with less institutional support.
He said Lagos State Government was already changing the narrative by deliberately working in partnership with industry players to bring more development and professionalism into the creative sector.
Governor Sanwo-Olu stated this last weekend at Atlanta in the United States of America (USA) during an interactive session with Nigerian musicians, producers and promoters at an event tagged ‘Stars are made in Lagos’, a side event at the just concluded 15th Headies Global Awards.
The Governor also visited the Trilith studios in Atlanta ahead of the planned Lagos film city project, where he met with the founder, Mr. Daniel Truett Carthy.
Governor Sanwo-Olu and his entourage were taken round the 700 acre site studio, with a 400 acres backlog and 24 sound stages.
The Governor said entertainment is well structured in his administration’s six pillars THEMES developmental agenda for Greater Lagos, which are Traffic Management and Transportation, Health and Environment, Education and Technology, Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy, Entertainment and Tourism, and Security and Governance.
“Before we were sworn in, we said to ourselves that we would be driven by a clear vision and in that vision, we had entertainment well structured. It is not just a coincidence that we are here today and doing what we are doing. It is something that was well thought out.
“It is something that has been in our economic agenda and it is something that we truly believe that our city requires and our people need. I think we cannot measure the energy of Lagosians and the energy of the entertainment industry by the audience in this room but you need to have your feet on the ground to truly really feel it.
“The entertainment industry in Lagos and in Nigeria is not only the biggest in Africa but also contributes to the GDP of the State and can be compared with any part of the world and we have seen it. We know what it means and we as a government are supporting that industry to be able to flourish,” he said.
During his meeting with Dan Carthy, Governor Sanwo-Olu also disclosed that his administration has given people in the creative industry the opportunity to fly through direct interventions and support from the Lagos State Government. He said the State Government is ready to embark on the big dream project to further empower the budding talents that abound in Nigeria.
“Because we realised and know that our creative industry has very innovative men and women, one of the things we said to ourselves is that, we should give them the opportunity to fly. Let us just give the ambience and space for them to do what they know how to do best.
“We realise that some of them could also have financial challenges, so we give out grants. We are not just giving people loans; we are also giving out grants for movie producers, songwriters, short documentaries, etc. We have seen growth. Some of the short stories that we have sponsored will be aired at the Toronto Festival,” the governor said.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said there are thousands of people in the arts and entertainment industry in Nigeria and Lagos in particular that need to be heard globally and tell the Lagos story like Davido, Wizkid and a number of our filmmakers.
Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State Government will continue to create the space for those in the arts and entertainment industry to be able to shine and be global players.
He said: “For us coming here is really about telling the Lagos story in America and we know that Atlanta is also a big entertainment space in the United States and so there is no better place to start a conversation than from here. What we are about is really to just test the water, be able to communicate and let the Diaspora audience know that they have a government and their people can also be there.
“We are opening up our doors to other players and believing that after this it would give other creative minds and producers; music and entertainment producers a platform where they also can indeed deepen that industry. So, we believe this first outing will germinate into a bigger outing for us.
“As a government, we believe these are the things we should be doing. We should hold our citizens. We should create that space for them to be able to shine and be global players and that is the beginning of the reality of so many things.”
PRESIDENT BUHARI HAILS SGF BOSS MUSTAPHA AT 66
On behalf of Federal Executive Council (FEC) and his family, President Muhammadu Buhari sends warm greetings to Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Gidahyelda Mustapha on his 66th birthday, September 4, 2022.
The President extols the political leader and diligent public servant for his dedication to nation building since his youthful days in the 80’s, staying active in legal practice, politics and governance, with distinctions in every assignment.
President Buhari notes commitment of the SGF in ensuring fluidity of ideas, team work and harmony, and efficient transitions of policies into gains for Nigerians, affirming that his historic leadership roles, like chairing the Presidential Task Force on Covid-19, will continue to stand him for recognitions.
As the former Managing Director of Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority turns 66, the President joins family, friends and political associates, particularly members of All Progressives Congress (APC), in celebrating with the legal luminary.
President Buhari prays for the wellbeing of Mustapha and his family.
Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 3, 2022
PRESIDENT BUHARI CONGRATULATES RENOWNED LITERARY SCHOLAR, PROF. G.G DARAH ON HONORARY DOCTOR OF LETTERS
President Muhammadu Buhari rejoices with Prof. Godini Gabriel Darah on conferment of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) on him by Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, Delta State, September 6, 2022, in recognition of his exceptional contribution to advancement of knowledge, at home and abroad.
The President felicitates with the respected scholar, who was also given the honour to share his intellectual depth, analytical prowess, literary experience and erudition by delivering the Keynote Address at the 4th Convocation Ceremony of the university, and 6th Michael Ibru Memorial Lecture.
President Buhari joins family, friends and professional associates, particularly in the academia, to celebrate with the folklorist, journalist and administrator whose lectures, writings and publications, over many years, continue to enlighten and motivate, a man who has worked variously at University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Northeastern University, Boston, U S, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, University of Africa, Toru-Orua and Delta State University, Abraka. He was also Chairman, Editorial Board of The Guardian Newspapers.
President Buhari notes Prof. Darah’s revolutionary approach to folklore and oral literature, and ingenious treatment of national and international issues by simplifying complex cultural, socio-economic and political issues, and putting them into relatable contexts.
The President believes the recognitions and awards for the highly sought-after scholar are well-deserved, while wishing him the best in future endeavors.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 5, 2022
PRESIDENT BUHARI REJOICES WITH FORMER DG OF NBC, DANLADI BAKO AT 65
President Muhammadu Buhari celebrates with veteran broadcaster and former Director General of National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Malam Danladi Bako, PhD, on his 65th birthday, felicitating with the journalist who contributed to the dynamism of media in Nigeria, especially on development.
President Buhari rejoices with Bako for a rewarding and memorable time as broadcaster, scholar, administrator and public servant, deploying his talent to create programmes that inspire and integrate, like the Morning Ride on NTA, which gave opportunity for many to advocate, counsel and ventilate.
The President notes the discipline, diligence and focus of the broadcaster, and his penchant for research and rigorous study, guiding many to see journalism as a career for continuous mind renewal, an adventure into unravelling the unknown, and telling the truth that encourages peace and harmony.
As the veteran journalist, who is also an expert in development communication, turns 65, the President commends his large- heartedness and ability to discover many talents as a scriptwriter, director and producer, with many of his prodigies playing leading roles in the movie industry, Nollywood.
President Buhari prays for good health, strength and more wisdom for Bako and his family to keep serving the country.
Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
September 4, 2022
JULIUS BERGER PLANT AND EQUIPMENT ACADEMY GRADUATES PIONEER SET OF TRAINEES IN ABUJA
Nigeria’s pace-setting leader in the engineering construction sector, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, in its practical pioneering effort to bridge latent skills gap in the industry, during the week graduated its first set of trainees from the company’s Plant and Equipment Academy, Abuja.
The company, historically reputed for robustly enabling remarkable and lasting technical solutions to the most daring engineering challenges in Nigeria, has commissioned and launched a Plant and Equipment Academy at its facility in Abuja, the nation’s capital earlier in the year on 25th of February.
The company’s Managing Director Engr. Dr Lars Richter, due to competing corporate engagements, was represented by the company’s executive director of administration, Alhaji Zubairu Ibrahim Bayi at the graduation ceremony of the pioneer set of trainees from the institution.
Alhaji Zubairu Bayi who read the Managing Director’s address at the ceremony, delivered the warm felicitations of the MD and the executive management to participants at the ceremony, and described the event as an epoch-making milestone in the anals of the company. He proudly celebrated “the successful graduation of the first set of artisanal trainees to pass through the strategic Julius Berger Plant and Equipment Academy” to a good round of applause from participants and guests.
Bayi particularly welcomed Julius Berger’s strategic partners for the work of the Academy, the Armed Forces Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Mechatronic School (AFEME), managed by the Nigerian military in collaboration with the German Technical Advisory Group. Speaking further, Bayi stated, “Our operational cooperation has seen AFEME deliver on all theoretical aspects of the Academy’s curriculum while Julius Berger took charge of the practical aspects of the training programme…that functional synergy of purpose has successfully led us to this celebratory moment, where we are now graduating trainees from the JBN Academy.
In giving substantive context to the event, Julius Berger said the gathering was “to proudly mark yet another key mileage in our company’s engineering solutions offer to our company and to Nigeria in general.”
Bayi stated that the idea, its conceptualization, launch and the focused implementation of the Julius Berger Plant and Equipment Academy derived from the company’s partnership approach to Nigeria’s well-rounded development, and is “a proud anchor of Julius Berger’s lasting patriotic faith in the unstoppable success of the Nigerian industrial self-reliance project.”
According to Bayi, from its inauguration on 25th February this year to the pioneer graduation ceremony of its trainees, it was and remains the executive management’s hopeful vision, that the Julius Berger Plant and Equipment Academy will be “a leader institution in technical training, the company’s funnel for dynamic, highly trained and resourceful technicians to fill the needs of the company and the industry in general.”
Notably, with a start-up number of eight trainees in the pioneers’ class for technical handling and maintenance of internal combustion engines, six trainees successfully passed both the rigorous theoretical and practical training modules and graduated on Thursday. That itself, according to Alhaji Bayi “…speaks to the strict technical and methodical training and assessment processes of the Academy, which guarantees that only well-trained, meritoriously viable and reliable artisans emerge from the Academy for the use of industry,” adding that, “that remains the dream, productive and lasting vision of the Academy.”
While thanking the managers and facilitators of the academy for their commitment to the excellent idea and ideals of the unique institution, Bayi also used the occasion to congratulate the graduating trainees for their disciplined commitment to their studies and success. He wished the successful graduands the best in their career endeavours going forward and charged them as worthy alumni of the Julius Berger Plant and Equipment Academy to remain good ambassadors of the potentially great Academy both in practice and in character.
Industry watchers consider the emergence of the Julius Berger Plant and Equipment Academy as a brilliant and strategic initiative with due regard to the country’s much needed technical industrial self-reliance and development.
Besides Julius Berger technical and administrative personnel who accompanied the Executive director of Administration Alhaji Bayi to the ceremony, other guests present at the first graduation ceremony of the Julius Berger Nigeria Plant and Equipment Academy included officers from the Armed Forces Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Mechatronic School (AFEME) and senior officials of the Industrial Training Fund led by its acting head of training, Mrs Chukwa.