President of the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) and Editor of Vanguard Newspaper, Eze Anaba, has commended Julius Berger Nigeria Plc as one of the few organisations in the country that consistently enjoys positive media attention—an achievement he attributed to the company’s professionalism and strategic engagement with the press.
Anaba made the remark in Lagos during Julius Berger’s annual dinner with senior media executives at the Sky Restaurant, Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island. He noted that the company’s reputation for transparency and its steady presence in the news for the right reasons have made it easy for journalists and editors to confidently tell its story.
“Your robust and strategic interactions with the press is a professional beauty to align with. We are always ready to partner with your company,” he said, affirming that the construction leader remains a benchmark for responsible corporate communication.
Representing the Managing Director, the company’s Director of Administration, Alhaji Dr. Abdulaziz Isa Kaita, expressed Julius Berger’s appreciation to the media for their consistent support throughout the year. He emphasised that the collaboration between the organisation and journalists has helped drive progress for both Nigeria and the company.
“In all, you have demonstrated that we are upping our partnership for the progress of the larger Nigerian community and our company,” Kaita stated, highlighting Julius Berger’s long-standing tradition of delivering quality infrastructure nationwide. He called for even stronger collaboration as the company continues to promote innovation, engineering excellence, and capacity development.
The 2025 Annual Media Parley continued in Abuja, where the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Ali M. Ali, delivered a keynote titled Public Relations and the Media: The Missing Link. He underscored the importance of a symbiotic relationship between PR practitioners and journalists, rooted in trust, mutual respect, and value creation.
Ali stressed that in a rapidly evolving communications space, PR professionals must embrace strategic thinking, strong storytelling, and a deep understanding of their audiences. He warned against engaging the media only in times of crisis, noting that organisations like Julius Berger benefit during challenging moments because of relationships built long before controversies arise.
He explained that while journalism seeks truth, public relations manages perception—an influential force that often shapes public opinion more strongly than reality. According to him, the real missing link in PR today is story framing. “Well-crafted stories are more likely to be published than poorly written press statements,” he said, insisting that compelling narratives remain the strongest connector between PR and the media.
Ali praised Julius Berger’s PR lead, Emmanuel Isibor, as a model practitioner who blends newsroom experience with strategic communication skill.
In his remarks, Dr. Kaita again lauded the media for their continued collaboration, noting that the partnership has helped sustain public trust in the company. He also highlighted Julius Berger’s contributions to Nigeria’s development since 1965, citing iconic projects such as the Eko Bridge, Third Mainland Bridge, and the Abuja–Kano Expressway.
He further referenced the company’s partnership with Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) on cold recycling technology—an innovation that recently earned recognition from the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). The breakthrough, he said, reflects Julius Berger’s commitment to research-driven engineering excellence.
Editors and senior journalists from ThisDay, BusinessDay, The Punch, Nairametrics, PressTV, Vanguard, MoneyCentral, the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Daily Trust, The Guardian, Asset TV, The Sun, and others attended the events in Lagos and Abuja, further strengthening the bond between Julius Berger and Nigeria’s media community.