Leading engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, last week demonstrated its commitment to a sustained drive for greener and inclusive urban development featuring prominently at the Future Cities Summit, even as Precious Umoren (Arc), a staff of Julius Berger subsidiary, PrimeTech Nigeria Plc, who participated in the Green Building Council Nigeria’s inaugural Youth Empowerment Exchange initiative with an independent team of 3 other professionals, won a Certificate of Achievement for their Green Material Hub presentation at the week-long summit in Lagos.
With the theme Building Resilient Futures: Integrating Carbon Neutrality, Circular Economy and Inclusive Urban Development, the Future Cities Summit placed urban resilience at the forefront of policy discourse on the development trajectory of African cities with special reference to Nigeria. According to the organisers, we acknowledge that sustainable urbanism is not just about reducing carbon emissions or implementing green initiatives, it is about creating inclusive environments that can adapt, survive and thrive amid an array of challenges.
With presentations from the event sponsors and partners on Future Cities of Africa: A Visionary for Tomorrow’s Landscapes, Harnessing Technology for Smart and Sustainable Urban Development in Africa; and Building Codes: Setting New Norms in African Construction as well as Strategies for Achieving Carbon Neutrality in African Cities, the four-day summit called for urgent action in the face of needed measures for transforming our cities into sustainable, resilient and inclusive spaces; adding that, Africa needs to act now to protect and preserve our urban futures.
Speaking on the sideline of the landmark event, the Director, Corporate Development of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Mr. Jochen Stolle recalled the various initiatives by the construction company in enhancing sustainability in all aspects of its operations and declared, Julius Berger actively pursues opportunities to foster shared value, aligning the interests of the company with those of the nation, communities, and dedicated staff. And that is why we support this renewed drive for greener and inclusive urban development for the country and possibly, Africa.
He said the company aligns with the global vision of sustainability and the building of resilient futures in urban landscapes even as he reeled out a few initiatives taken by Julius Berger in the not-too-distant past in this direction.
On Environment-Centric Solutions, he said, Julius Berger has set goals and targets for the next foreseeable years that include the ongoing adoption of environment-centric solutions like incorporating energy-tracking smart buildings, utilising green concrete and recycled aggregates, implementing sustainable site installations and leveraging prefabricated construction techniques.
For Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility, Mr Stolle said Julius Berger adheres to the ten universal principles of the United Nations Global Compact, reinforcing their dedication to responsible and sustainable business practices, adding that the company’s commitment extends to economic viability, environmental responsibility, and social inclusion.
He further said Julius Berger remained committed to CSR through donations and community development initiatives.
On Health, Safety & Environment, the Director said, Julius Berger prioritizes the welfare of their staff, broader society, and the environment in Nigeria adding that rigorous health, safety, and environmental measures are implemented to ensure responsible growth while preserving resources for the future.
Stolle continued: Our teams operate with a sense of responsibility towards colleagues, clients, business partners, and communities, contributing to long-term sustainability and resilience in the areas where they operate.
He also spoke on the company’s efforts on improved Human Capital Development, philanthropy and social welfare concluding that Julius Berger is at home with a global move for sustainability and building resilient futures.
Put together, he said the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) metrics recent ranking stood at 98%, ahead of many hitherto well-known companies.
Sustainability and green building are closely intertwined concepts that focus on promoting environmentally responsible and resource-efficient practices in the construction industry. Green building, also known as sustainable building or eco-friendly building, is an approach to the design, construction, and operation of buildings that aims to reduce their environmental impact and improve the health and well-being of occupants. Sustainability, on the other hand, is a broader concept that encompasses not only environmental considerations but also social and economic factors to ensure the long-term well-being of current and future generations.
Participants at the event included a member of the World Bank Group, International Finance Corporation, IFC, Water conversion specialists, Watergen and Green Building designers, and Litedares among several others.
Apart from the Director, Corporate Development who led Team Julius Berger to the landmark event, other members of the Team were, the Senior Executive Manager of the Strategic Business Development Unit, Ndifreke Ukochio, Manager of the Corporate Communications Department, James Agama, Head, Business Development Unit, Primetech, Ayotunde Sogeke, PrimeTech’s Head of MEP Services Department, Oluwakolade Ilori, and Joseph Abba who is PrimeTech’s Head of Architecture. Also at the event are representatives of Julius Berger’s Media Relations Office, Ms Mobolaji Ogunyemi and the Head of Department, Emmanuel Isibor.
