Julius Berger, Enactus Nigeria deepen partnership to advance sustainable innovation in construction

Julius Berger Nigeria Plc has reinforced its commitment to innovation, sustainability and youth empowerment through a strengthened partnership with Enactus Nigeria under the Julius Berger Innovation Challenge (JBIC) 2026 Mentorship Programme, an initiative designed to equip young Nigerians with the skills, exposure and support needed to develop practical solutions to challenges within the construction industry.

The programme brought together undergraduate students from tertiary institutions across the country, providing them with access to mentorship from industry experts, entrepreneurial guidance and valuable industry exposure. Through the initiative, participants were challenged to develop innovative and sustainable solutions capable of addressing critical issues across Nigeria’s construction value chain.

Speaking at the programme, Country Director of Enactus Nigeria, Michael Ajayi, described the collaboration between both organisations as a strategic investment in the future of Nigeria’s construction sector and the next generation of innovators.

“The partnership between Enactus Nigeria and Julius Berger is forward-looking because it is highly aspirational in its expected achievements and outcomes,” Ajayi said, adding, “Together, we are creating opportunities for students to develop the skills, innovative mindset and leadership qualities required for nation-building.”

Ajayi noted that beyond competition, the initiative serves as a platform for nurturing practical solutions to real-world challenges.

“The projects presented by students represent far more than academic exercises. They reflect the ingenuity, resilience and determination of a generation committed to building a better Nigeria,” he added.

According to him, the challenge has demonstrated the remarkable capacity of Nigerian students to develop innovative concepts relevant to sustainable construction, improved building processes and emerging industry needs.

“What we have seen in this challenge, with Enactus students across the country presenting so many innovations, is truly exciting. These are groundbreaking ideas developed by young Nigerians with the potential to create meaningful impact,” Ajayi said, expressing confidence that with continued support, several of the ideas could evolve into transformative solutions for the construction industry.

Delivering the keynote address at the programme’s grand finale, Chief Risk Officer of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Mrs. Shakira Mustapha, said the event represented more than the conclusion of a competition.

“Today is a celebration of innovation, creativity, collaboration and the limitless potential of young Nigerians to shape the future of our built environment,” she said.

Mustapha explained that the vision behind the Julius Berger Innovation Challenge was to provide students across Nigeria with a platform to address pressing sustainability challenges confronting the construction sector.

She emphasized that the future of construction would increasingly be driven by innovation, sustainability and fresh thinking, in addition to traditional engineering expertise.

“Participants explored critical issues including resource efficiency, sustainable materials, waste reduction, energy performance, climate resilience, affordable housing and smart infrastructure, while developing practical solutions to address them,” she noted.

Commending the quality of ideas presented during the programme, Mustapha described the outcomes as an encouraging reflection of the ingenuity and determination of Nigerian youths.

“This programme has shown that Nigeria is blessed with a generation of young people who understand the environmental and social challenges of their time and are determined to develop solutions for them,” she said.

Reaffirming Julius Berger’s commitment to sustainable development, Mustapha stressed that sustainabilit