…reiterates commitment to improving education, literacy in project communities
Nigeria’s leading construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has restated its commitment to improving education and literacy in its project communities.
Julius Berger’s Head of Corporate Communication, Mr. James Agama, stated this when the company handed over the renovated LEA Primary School Jahi – Kado Kuchi, FCT Abuja, worth N32.5 million under its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.
The scope of the project undertaken by Julius Berger included the renovation and complete rehabilitation of the six classroom blocks, including the roof, walls and the classroom floors of the school. It also included the provision of furniture for classrooms and staff rooms, and the installation of a playground for the pupils and a complete repainting of the entire six blocks of classrooms.
The intervention was done in collaboration with Stewards of the Environment for Sustainable Change Initiative (SESCI).
Agama, who expressed excitement at the reception given to the company‘s delegation, said Julius Berger Nigeria Plc continues to look forward to such opportunities to improve education and literacy in its project communities because of the long-lasting positive relationship between the company and the people. He said the renovation is one of many other interventions made by the company in the FCT this year, enjoining the school management to make good use of the facilities provided and ensure that the impact is felt by the children in the communities.
Narrating the origin of the laudable intervention, SESCI’s Convener, Mrs Adiza Ujo, said, “We visit schools to promote care for the environment and to also pay school fees for indigent students, but after vising LEA Primary School Jahi Kado Kuchi last year, we realised that the environment is totally unconducive for learning and the magnitude of the rehabilitation work needed to put the school back in shape could only be undertaken by capable and willing corporate organisations. We reached out to a couple of organisations and only Julius Berger responded.
“In January this year, the Julius Berger team came along with us to assess the level of damage and the amount of renovation that needed to be done, and to our surprise they were ready to singlehandedly finance the project.
“Here we are today, the students are happy, the two communities of Jahi and Kado-Kuchi are happy, the teachers are happy and UBEB is also happy. Julius Berger has done very well, and we want to thank them very much.”
In his appreciation speech, the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) Chairman, Dr. Alhasan Sule, thanked Julius Berger for the laudable project.
Sule described the intervention as “the largest so far by any private organisation recorded by the Board in recent time”, adding that “the initiative proves that Julius Berger truly and indeed cares about its host communities and about education”.
“We will prove to you that we appreciate what you have done here by ensuring the enrolment of more pupils in this school. We send our appreciation to the Management of Julius Berger,” he said.
Also speaking, the school’s Headmistress, Mrs Edith Arhanmhunde, thanked Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and conveyed appreciation messages from community leaders and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) to the company.
The FCT UBEB Chairman, Dr Sule, was accompanied by the Board’s Director of Primary School Services, Mr. Habibah Aliyu-Barau, and the Board’s Director of Fiscal and Project Planning, Architect Monsur Muhammed Sule.
Julius Berger Nigeria Plc is a dynamic group of companies seamlessly expanding horizons from its engineering background into diverse sectors. It harnesses an entrenched culture of excellence, responsibility, courage, and collaboration to sustainably redefine possibilities and shape industries with ingenuity and unwavering commitment.
