It was excitement galore recently when the nation’s engineering construction frontrunner, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, stepped up its Corporate Social Responsibility efforts, donating literacy materials to schools in Lagos and Ogun State.
The effort is to fulfil one of the company’s contributory obligations to communities in its operational environment.
At Iponri Estate Junior High School, Lagos, no fewer than six hundred students got a literacy pack each, which contains writing materials and a piece of What Sunny Saw in the Flames - an award-winning African-based fantasy novel, written by multiple-award-winning Nigerian-American author, Nnedimma Nkemdili Okorafor.
Addressing the students, the leader of the Julius Berger team on the campaign and the Head of the Company’s Corporate Communications Department, Mr. James Agama, told the students about the essence of the CSR effort. He explained that Julius Berger is interested in the prosperous future of Nigeria and Nigerians. “We also build the future of children promoting their educational development in areas where we operate,” he said, adding, “We promote your education to prepare you for future challenges”.
Applauding Julius Berger for the gesture, the Vice Principal, Iponri Estate Junior High, Mrs. Lydia Omowumi Adenigba, who stood in for the Principal said, “…we appreciate Julius Berger for this laudable effort. It has been long time since we saw such an effort from any organisation operating in Lagos. We will no doubt cherish this day for a long time to come. Thank you, Julius Berger”.
The Head Boy of the school, Master Olatuyi Timilehin spoke in a similar vein. “We know Julius Berger as a construction company building bridges, roads and houses; however, today we have seen another good thing your company does; that is promoting education. Thank you Julius Berger for this and the other special works that you do”, he said.
Junior Community High School, Ibafo, Ogun State, was the Julius Berger Literacy Campaign team’s next port of call. Ibafo is in Obafemi Owode Local Government of Ogun State, between Magodo and Magboro-Shofolarin on the Lagos-Shagamu Expressway.
The reception was similar there too as no fewer than 650 elated students sang and danced with their respective bags of literacy materials. In a vote of thanks, the Vice Principal of the school, Mr. Olaniyi Olusola, expressed his appreciation saying, “This is a very worthy effort by your company to uplift the education of our students. We appreciate Julius Berger; tell your Management that we will be supporting them in our prayers always”.
Recall that the Julius Berger Literacy Campaign team also recently visited schools in the Federal Capital Territory - Abuja where about a thousand literacy packs have been donated so far this year.
Julius Berger’s Literacy Campaign is a continuous CSR activity purposed to promote education and encourage students in primary and secondary schools.
