Pecohub A social media post by Greg Nwoko has reignited discussion about the origins of Julius Berger, challenging a long-circulating Nigerian story that the company’s founder died and was buried near a bridge in Epe, Lagos State.
In the post, Nwoko recounts the life of Julius Berger, describing him as a German engineer of Jewish descent who was born in 1862 and died in 1942 during the Holocaust.
He argues that the story about the founder’s burial in Nigeria is false and urges Nigerians to teach children a more historically accurate account.
The company’s official history confirms that Julius Berger’s construction business originated in Germany.
Its early history dates to 1890, when it received a contract to build a road in what was then West Prussia.
The company entered Nigeria in 1965 after securing the contract to construct the Second Mainland Bridge, now known as Eko Bridge. Julius Berger Nigeria Ltd was incorporated in 1970.
These records support the distinction between the company’s German origins and its later Nigerian operations.
However, the specific personal details in Nwoko’s account including the founder’s reported death in a concentration camp should be checked against independent historical records before being published as established fact.
Julius Berger subsequently became involved in major Nigerian infrastructure projects, including bridges, roads, ports and public buildings, making the company one of the most recognisable names in the country’s construction sector.
