News From Nigeria
Leading engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, has broadened its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR efforts with major women’s health advocacy programs in Abuja and Lagos.
Last Tuesday, the company partnered with the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat and the Family Peace and Women Empowerment Initiative (FAPWEI) to host the 2025 Women’s Health and Advocacy Program in Abuja. The initiative focused on early detection and management of breast and cervical cancer, bringing together healthcare professionals, policymakers, and community representatives for sensitization sessions.
FCT Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, praised Julius Berger’s commitment, describing the company as not only building roads, but building people and strengthening communities. She emphasised the company’s role in advancing women’s health and aligning with national development agendas.
Julius Berger’s Chief Risk Officer, Mrs. Shakira Mustapha, reaffirmed the company’s dedication to community development, noting that the program celebrated women’s resilience while promoting awareness of mental health and preventive care. Head of Corporate Development, James Agama, added that the collaboration underscored the company’s vision of enabling progress and prosperity.
The Abuja event also featured donations of 400 bags of rice to beneficiaries, reinforcing Julius Berger’s commitment to social investment and sustainable partnerships.
Two days later, the company extended its outreach to Lagos, supporting a women’s health program at Gbagada General Hospital. Hundreds of women from Kosofe attended sessions themed “Woman’s Reproductive Journey and the Importance of Wellness through Self-awareness and Self-preservation.” Topics included menopause, pregnancy care, and self-care, alongside free medical check-ups.
Healthcare experts, including Dr. Olutokunbo Oseni and Dr. Noimot Balogun, stressed the importance of early detection and lifestyle awareness, commending Julius Berger’s role in preventive care. The company also highlighted its ongoing collaboration with Gbagada General Hospital, including rehabilitation of the Intensive Care Unit.
For Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, these initiatives are more than CSR checkboxes. They represent a philosophy of nation-building that integrates physical infrastructure with social investment. By focusing on women’s health, the company acknowledges that strong communities are built not only on roads and bridges, but also on informed, healthy, and empowered citizens.
As Chief Risk Officer Mrs. Shakira Mustapha noted, “When you train a woman, you have trained a nation.” Her words reflect the Julius Berger’s belief that empowering women is central to sustainable development.
From Abuja to Lagos, Julius Berger’s recent programs have demonstrated that its legacy is not confined to engineering marvels. It is also about shaping lives, strengthening communities, and ensuring that progress is inclusive.
Community members celebrated the opportunity to learn, engage, and receive care in a supportive environment. Local leaders and hospital officials lauded Julius Berger’s contributions, with Councillor Christiana Kuboye noting that the firm’s impact extends beyond infrastructure to meaningful community engagement.
Even the Master of Ceremony, and a physiotherapist at the hospital, Lanre Elegbeleye, reminded participants of Julius Berger’s enduring reputation: None of their bridges have ever collapsed because they stand for excellence, responsibility, courage, and collaboration, he further said.
With these initiatives, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC continues to demonstrate that its legacy of excellence is not confined to engineering projects, but also to strengthening communities and advancing public health across Nigeria.
The 2025 Canaan Land Smart City Golf Tournament and Business conference will begin on Friday, December 12 in Delta State.
‘’Koko Town has the huge potential for investment, particularly in real estate, agriculture, health, tourism and other areas. So we are expecting investors and some of the most famous and highly-ranked golfers in the sport’s history and in the contemporary game from different parts of the world’’ a statement by the Chief Executive Officer of Akogate Group, Felix Aganbi, said.
The golf tournament and business and conference will hold from12-14 December, 2025 in Canaan Land, Koko Town.
‘’Koko Town is a hub for fishing and shrimping operations. There are a lot of oil and gas companies. Whether you are a local or foreign investor or looking at residential or commercial properties, there is something for everyone in Koko’’
The statement said ‘’the event will showcase the diverse range of opportunities that the port town has to offer’’
On security, Aganbi said ‘’Steps have been taken to ensure that visitors from within and outside the country have a secure and conducive atmosphere within which to assess the economic opportunities of Koko”
He emphasized the tight security in Koko and the hospitality for which the residents are known for.
“Top business men in Nigeria and abroad, members of the diplomatic corps and key actors in government across the country are looking forward to converging on Koko beginning from December 12, 2025. They are excited by the prospect of experiencing the hospitality for which the good people of Koko are known for and the vast opportunities for commerce, tourism and industry”
According to Aganbi, the event is expected to drive long term sustainable economic participation and create new opportunities for local and foreign investors in the area.
‘’It will provide valuable insights into untapped business opportunities, encourage private sector participation, showcase the real estate and tourism potentials of Koko and unite the people and the communities.
‘’Situated off Benin-Sapele expressway, the port town is 30 minutes’ drive from Benin City and over 45 minutes away from Warri town by road. Koko has the best aquatic products in Nigeria as of today. Completion of the coastal road will reduce travel time between Delta and Lagos to less than two hours. There are ongoing refinery projects. People who are coming to Koko will be in for a surprise’’ he added.