Amidst the clinking of glasses and backslapping among media professionals in Lagos and Abuja, the Director of Corporate Development of leading conglomerate Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, Jochen Stolle, has underscored the need for journalists and media relations practitioners to foster strong relationships even as he declared that the company is a fully-owned Nigerian company.
This is coming just as the President of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Dr Ike Keliaku, and the President of PR outfit Upticomm Marketing Company Ltd, Segun McMedal, could not agree more.
In his welcome address to the August gatherings held first in Lagos and next in Abuja, Stolle described the gatherings as not unique but historic in many ways.
He said that apart from being the first Media Parley held since he assumed office as the Director of Corporate Development, with direct authority over the Media Relations Office and Corporate Communications Department in the company, it is the first to be organised by Julius Berger‘s new Media Relations Manager, Emmanuel Isibor.
Beyond all that, it is the first time I am getting to meet you all, our dear media partners. But it will certainly not be the last. It marks a season of new and refreshing beginnings. And let me add that this also is the first time our new Head of Corporate Communications, James Agama, is getting to meet you all, Stolle said.
Describing the Lagos and Abuja parleys as an annual rally to share under an atmosphere of laughter, backslapping and more profound friendship, the Director said they are indeed refreshing moments for all.
Stolle put the company’s structure in its proper perspective: “Julius Berger Nigeria Plc is a wholly owned Nigerian company that has contributed immensely to critical infrastructural development in the country. We are listed on the Nigerian stock exchange. We are here to stay and will continue contributing our quota to Nigeria’s infrastructure development.”
According to him, the company is proud to be associated with positive infrastructural development in Nigeria and will adhere strictly to its core values of “excellence, responsibility, collaboration and courage.”
Stolle continued that, as we build on this refreshing partnership journey together, I wish we grow and nurture it into a mutually beneficial long-term partnership built on the solid foundation of true friendship and trust. There is no gainsaying that partnership for development has always been the hallmark of all we do at Julius Berger.
He added that we partner for progress, collaboration, excellence, responsibility, and courage. These are the strong pillars around which all we do revolve. Julius Berger‘s operation in Nigeria for over 50 years now, and successfully, too, lends sound credence to the preceding.
Stolle said further that, as a professional Nigerian engineering construction company of immense positive reputation, Julius Berger has been acclaimed for its contributions to developing critical national infrastructures across the country. The same applies to buildings for some private concerns, like the famous FAMFA Tower and the up-and-coming Lagos Hyatt Hotel.
In conclusion, the Julius Berger Director retorted: We remain a Nigerian company, ever proud to associate with positive infrastructural developments in the country and ready to contribute our utmost professional best to further the goals of our founding fathers.
In his appeal, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku, described Julius Berger as one company with complete confidence in the Nigerian economy.
In his short presentation titled Fostering Rewarding Relationship between the Media and Corporate Media Relations Professionals, Neliaku said since coming to Nigeria in 1965 to handle the first construction contract, the Eko Bridge, Julius Berger has continued to integrate itself into the Nigerian economy to the extent that it is now a fully owned Nigerian company even as he commended the company for maintaining compliance with the Nigerian laws including, specified academic requirements by professional bodies in the country like the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations.
He lauded the company for maintaining its reputation in the Nigerian built environment and construction sector. Julius Berger has a culture of excellence. They invest in growing successive generations of qualified professionals.
Reputation is the biggest asset of any individual or organisation. Julius Berger is known for quality, excellence and global standards”.
Neliaku praised the innovative media parley and congratulated Julius Berger Nigeria Plc for cultivating the Nigerian media by establishing such a robust tradition of friendship.
Speaking at the Lagos event, which was held at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, a PR expert and member of the Governing Council of the NIPR, Segun McMedal, hailed the media parley as a welcome development, adding that in a vibrant media landscape where competition, misinformation, and public trust converge, collaboration between journalists and media relations practitioners is not only essential for mutual success but also for the greater good of society.
Stressing that the media is a powerful tool for shaping public discourse, fostering accountability, and influencing societal behaviour, Mcmedal enthused that the press also connects nations, elevates brand visibility, and drives organisational growth.
In media relations specifically, PR expects that media relations aim to establish mutually beneficial relations between an organisation and the media. He added that, in today’s competitive marketplace, having good media relations can help a company succeed. He, therefore, urged Julius Berger to continue to grow its annual media parley efforts to further the gains of the interactions.
