BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – Management team of construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, led by its Executive Director, Administration, Alhaji Zubairu Ibrahim Bayi, blazed the trail during the week when it took time out of its work schedule to host and parley with media executives at its Board Room in Abuja as part of its End-of Year Get Together.
In his remarks, the Alhaji Zubairu Ibrahim Bayi said both the Nigerian media and the company are constantly faced with similar challenges in trying to achieve their multi-faceted operational goals.
The soft spoken Bayi said that within the utilitarian context in which members in the two different sectors operate, Julius Berger as an engineering construction firm and the media establishment face a similar fundamental challenge.
According to him; “The challenge lies in the perception we both receive from the public which consumes our works, products and services; the public which we must respectfully, at all times, continue to serve.”
Expatiating on his position, the Executive Director said commendations and condemnation of efforts by the two sectors depend on the perception of their audiences and consumers of the services and products provided, adding that; “Julius Berger receives open commendation and goodwill when the user public is satisfied with the precise engineering infrastructure, which we seriously, innovatively and professionally deliver for the use, convenience and comfort of Nigerians.
“In a similar manner, the Media gets high accolades when it professionally delivers precise, factual and helpful information to enhance the greatest good of the greatest number of Nigerians.
“Because of our necessary, mutual and open commitment to excellence, progressive development and the common good, our society understandably asks for more from Julius Berger as well as from the Media.”
Bayi further told his guests that this unique demand from the public remains a tonic that gingers both the media and Julius Berger to strive for better service and products delivery to the public just as he posited that “it is a social demand which we understand, appreciate, respect and value immensely. It drives progress.”
The Julius Berger Executive Director said Julius Berger Plc believes that there are three noticeable and interesting operational connections between the work of the company and the work of the Media.
In his words; “First, we both must conduct our work in the Public domain, and with excellence and helpful results as our end game. Second, we both must work for the greatest good and benefit of the greatest number of our people; and third, within the above utilitarian context of our occupational operations, Julius Berger and the Media therefore tend to face a similar and fundamental challenge.”
“It is within the foregoing context of the mutual challenges, commitment to high professional standards, continuing mutual working harmony; and consistent march to assured progress, that Julius Berger Nigeria Plc finds it cheerful to invite the media to the event.
“It is our humble, little way of saying we value and appreciate our media partners, for your understanding and abiding faith in our Company as a faithful development partner of our dear nation.”
Bayi used the opportunity to assure the Media that Julius Berger, being a law-abiding corporate citizen, will continue to operate a transparent and friendly relationship with the Press for the clarification of any news stories relating to the Company, adding that the Media should feel free to reach out to the company’s Media Relations Office whenever the need arises for clarification of issues.
He particularly asked for deeper understanding and cooperation between the media and Julius Berger in the years ahead.
In his brief response, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory Council, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbeche thanked Julius Berger for hosting the media executives, saying that the company has always been part of the country’s progress.
Ogbeche, who is also the Editor of Abuja Inquirer newspapers further said: “Nigerian journalists will continue to hold every public and private institution accountable to the people. However, we have listened to the Executive Director very well. On that note, I must say that Nigerian journalists are ready to deepen our relationship with Julius Berger.
“We appreciate the mutual respect and harmony that characterise the relationship between the Media establishment and Julius Berger.”
Top media executives beside the NUJ chairman that graced the event included, the Director of News, Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Alhaji Aliyu Baba Barau, Managing Director – News, Africa Independent Television (AIT), Imoni Amarere, Managing Editor, The Nation newspaper, Yusuf Alli, Former FCT NUJ Chairman and Executive Editor, Forefront News magazine, Amos Dunia, Editor-in-Chief of Blueprint Newspapers, Zainab Sulaiman-Okino, Head of News, AIT/Ray Power FM, Kelly Elisha, , Editor, Northern Operations, ThisDay newspapers, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Head of Broadcasting Cool/Wazobia FM, James Expensive, Bureau Chief, Ogun state Broadcasting Corporation, OGBC, Oladisun Amosun, among several others.
Several of the senior members of the Media establishment who attended the event commended Julius Berger for the strides it made in the outgoing year, which they severally attributed to the proactive commitment of the company’s Management to the ideals of forward looking corporations even as many prayed for greater achievements for the construction firm in 2019.
Among Julius Berger’s Management team who graced the event, beside the Executive Directors Alhaji Bayi and Tobias Meletschus were; Human Resource Coordinator, Barrister Moses Anite, Head, Media Relations Office, Prince Moses Duku, Manager, Corporate Health, Safety and Environment, Mr. Peter Drillingcourt and others.
