By JKNewsMedia
INFRASTRUCTURE DELIVERY and engineering innovation took centre stage as Nigeria’s journalists celebrated 2025 World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) in Abuja, with Julius Berger Nigeria Plc clinching the Construction Company of the Year Award at the high-profile event.
The award, presented by Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) President Comrade Alhassan Yahya, recognised the company’s role in executing transformative infrastructure projects nationwide.
Yahya commended the firm’s enduring commitment to excellence, referencing historical feats such as the 1965-built Eko Bridge, the recently completed Second Niger Bridge, and the ongoing Bodo-Bonny Road project.
“We have observed during the year under review that the company has remained the best in all the construction works they have undertaken and the ones that are currently work-in-progress,” Yahya told a packed audience.
“You are deserving of this award and more.”
Receiving the award on behalf of the company, Director of Administration Alh. Dr Abdulaziz Kaita thanked the NUJ for the honour, describing it as particularly meaningful given its coincidence with World Press Freedom Day.
“This honour, especially coming in commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, carries a deep and symbolic significance for us,” Kaita said.
He noted that the day serves to highlight fundamental principles of press freedom, defend journalistic integrity, and honour reporters who have paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.
He added that being recognised during such a globally significant moment further underscores the company’s commitment to national development and social progress.
Kaita emphasised that innovation remains at the core of the company’s operations, citing its pioneering use of cold recycling technology for sustainable road construction, advanced digital tools in project management, and adherence to international quality and safety benchmarks, including ISO 9001 and ISO 45001 standards.
“At Julius Berger, we believe that innovation is not merely an option—it is a responsibility we owe to the future of infrastructure and the communities we serve,” he said.
He concluded by affirming that the company’s efforts go beyond construction: “We are building trust, empowering local talent, and driving Nigeria’s industrial and economic advancement.”
Other award recipients at the NUJ’s 2025 Press Freedom and Good Governance Awards included the Governors of Kaduna and Kebbi States, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), the Director General of the National Senior Citizens Centre, and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
