ABU Students Praise Julius Berger’s Performance
- Okay Abuja-Kaduna road quality work
BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – Engineering students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria have commended Julius Berger Nigeria Plc for the steady pace of work and high quality engineering standards on the Abuja-Kaduna highway project.
The students were on a two-day excursion visit to the ongoing project, particularly Section 2 of the ever-busy expressway being handled by the German firm.
The Civil Engineering students’ delegation, comprising the Masters of Science Degree programme of the institution, was led by Mr Akura Stephen.
They toured the entire Section 2 currently under construction for two days, spanning Monday, October 7 and Tuesday, October 8, 2019.
Satisfied with the quality of construction work being undertaken by Julius Berger, the students appreciated the company and urged it to focus on successfully completing the project on time.
The students also expressed their appreciation to the construction firm for the opportunity afforded them to take away “some new knowledge in practical construction work.”
In his remarks, the project’s Site Manager, Engineer Kamal Kaawachi, who with other Julius Berger’s officials took the students on the project site tour, said novel and precision technology was deployed to further enhance and deliver excellent and habitual professionalism associated with the company.
He explained that the firm does not compromise standards in every project it handles to ensure an outcome that testifies to international best quality and time schedule.
Kaawachi, described as an quintessential and delightful Julius Berger engineering professional, took the visitors through the cold mixing plant, a new technology introduced into the construction industry in Nigeria by Julius Berger.
The students also visited the site laboratory where technical integrity tests are conducted on site and were lectured on the paramount importance of strict compliance to planned programme of works on an engineering project site.
Engineer Kaawachi also fielded questions from the ABU students on diverse issues relating to the project and ongoing construction works to the appreciation of the students.
The students admitted that it was a memorable field visit, practical master class and professional experience for them.
Speaking with journalists on the ABU students’ visit, Executive Director Administration of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Alhaji Zubairu Ibrahim Bayi said; “In tandem with our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) obligations as a patriotic corporate citizen, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has, amongst other strategies, continued to emphasize and offer pragmatic and progressive support to the nation’s goal of industrial and professional development.
“We do this through qualitative educational and professional training and development initiatives… This strategic policy, for instance, has consistently informed Julius Berger’s robust involvement with the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) and the NYSC programme of the government.”
According to him, “Management has made its strong support for continuous industrial research, staff training programmes and impartation of technical skills and expertise as well as its deliberate community engagement work a productive pivot of its CSR policy and advocacy. We know by experience that, for education to be functional, productive and helpful to the national development agenda, it must synergize both classroom theories and operational application.
“It is therefore, in our view, a continuing fulfilment of Julius Berger’s CSR objectives for our company to host the postgraduate engineering students of ABU to our site operations. We are honoured to receive the students.”
Members of the Julius Berger Plc team that joined Engineer Kaawachi on the tour were Project Coordinator, Engineer Yusuf Ibrahim; Quality Assurance/Quality Control Supervisor Engr. Eghonghon Edovia; Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Supervisor Odivwri Monday; and Engineer Emmanuel Imie of the technical team.
Other team members that assisted giving in the visiting students a memorable excursion experience included Mr Onome Lucky and Mohammed Umar.
