Management and staff of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc recently celebrated the maiden edition of the company’s Annual Cultural Day amid fanfare with Nigerian and expatriate staff representing the country’s various tribes.
The event, which was celebrated in the head office in Abuja and in all the operational regions and sites of the Julius Berger Group, saw staff resplendently dressed in diverse local attires exhibiting the rich culture of the peoples of Nigeria.
Kickstarting the event Abuja, the Head of Human Resources Department, Olorunfemi Ojomo, welcomed staff members and other guests and encouraged all to savour the significance of the ceremony as a celebration of the rich and diverse culture of the warm and lively Nigerian society.
Other management staff at the ceremony included the Regional Manager of the company’s Region Central North (RCN), Engr. Oliver Berger, Project Coordinator, Engr. Ismaila Amodu Mohammed, Head of Human Resources Directorate, Alexander Conford, Senior Contracts Manager, Barrister (Mrs) Omonigho Brown, Chief Risk Officer, Mrs Shakira Mustapha, and a host of other staff of the company.
At the Ijora Lagos Office of Region West of the company, Regional Manager, Commercial, Alexander Bauer, and his Technical colleague, Christl Thomas, led the staff to the unique celebration of Nigeria culture.
Speaking, Bauer said the event was the company’s way of identifying with the rich culture of the people of Nigeria.
He called on the staff to always be proud of their respective cultures as diverse as they are, adding that their diversity generates interests that strengthen, unify and galvanise them together as one big family.
He further said the day has been added in the company’s calendar as the event is now planned to be an annual event following the successful inauguration.
On the significance of the event, the Regional Manager (Technical), Thomas, who dressed as a proud representative of the Igbo people of the South-East, said, “Today we all stand up to represent each Nigerian tribe as possible. We are harnessing our cultural diversity by dressing in any Nigerian tribal dress and tasting local delicacies including soups and other foods. We are celebrating our maiden Cultural Day. It marks the celebration of our cultural diversity here in Nigeria and we hope to reap all the benefits that derive from such values that will enhance the operational efficiency of all staff.”
In preparing for the event, the Human Resource Department had informed the workers that only employees whose jobs require the use of PPEs or wearing of uniforms were exempted. All other personnel joyfully participated as one happy corporate family in their diverse and colourful Nigerian traditional attires.
The Abuja and Ijora Lagos events as well as at other sites like Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, were marked by visits to the designated booths for photo sessions and posting on social media handles with hashtags #HarnessingOurDiversity ~JBNCulturalDay; #CelebratingJBDiversity, fashion show on blue carpet amidst more photo sessions and presentations from a few cultural dances.
Traditional foods from all sections of the country were on display and later served to staff and guests as refreshments.
