Julius Berger’s new plant, equipment academy to enhance technical skills

Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has launched a Plant and Equipment Academy at its facility in Abuja to provide technical solutions to the construction industry.

The company’s executive director of administration, Alhaji Zubairu Ibrahim Bayi who officially inaugurated the  academy last Friday, said the academy was part of the company’s corporate social responsibility.

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He said the academy will empower the country’s vibrant youth population with more employable and productive technical skills for reliable and expanded industrial development and nation-building.

 “It is, therefore, the company’s vision for the academy to be a leading institution in technical training; Julius Berger’s funnel for dynamic, highly trained and resourceful technicians to fill the needs of the company and the construction industry in general.

Julius Berger’s strategic partner for the Academy is the Armed Forces Electrical & Mechanical Engineering Mechatronic School (AFEME). It is a technical training institute fully registered with Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). AFEME is managed by the Nigerian Army in collaboration with the German Technical Advisory Group.

“The focus of the partnership is to have AFEME deliver on all theoretical aspects of the Academy’s curriculum while JBN takes care of the practical aspect of the curriculum. The collaborative effort is free of any charges to the trainees that will be attending the JBN Plant and Equipment Academy. AFEME also will have trainees from its institution partake in practical learning sessions within the JBN workshops,” Bayi added.

He further said the academy was designed to develop qualified technicians equipped with the necessary technical skillset required to deliver exceptional value on their jobs. The skills cover spectrum of different engineering components (mechanical and electrical).

The executive director also said the first batch of the programme, which has kicked off, will run for 26 weeks (Thursday for Theory classes, and Saturdays for Practical Classes). The theoretical and practical lectures will take place at the AFEME Mechatronic School and JBN’s Plant & Equipment Repair Centre and Workshop.

“At the end of the training programme, certificates will be issued to trainees who are successful in any of the areas of development. The certificates shall be in two categories, namely Master Technical Certificate, which is to be issued based on successful completion of the practical aspect of the area of development and Certificate of Proficiency, which is to be issued based on successful completion of the theoretical aspect of the area of development.

“Both certificates shall be issued to trainees based on successful completion of their courses and that is to be determined by final post-learning assessment and the ability to score above the pass benchmark.

Bayi also encouraged the pioneer set of trainees at the academy who were present at the ceremony to take full advantage of their career development programmes at the facility and make a success of the opportunity the company is affording them at zero cost.