Bahia State Legislature honors the business and social legacy of Norberto Odebrecht, founder of the Novonor Group

On the morning of Thursday (9), the plenary hall of the Bahia State Legislature (ALBA), in Salvador, became the stage for a symbolic and meaningful tribute. On the day that engineer and businessman Norberto Odebrecht would have turned 105, the House hosted a Special Session celebrating the 80 years of the Novonor Group and the 60 years of the Foundation that bears his name.

The initiative, proposed by state representative Eduardo Salles, brought together authorities, representatives of partner institutions, Group members, and Norberto’s family. “History shows us that no country has achieved sustainable development without strong engineering. Today, Brazilian society, especially in Bahia, recognizes Odebrecht’s enormous technical capability, known for its superior engineering and constant innovation in pioneering construction methods,” said the representative during the session.

With eight decades of operation, Odebrecht Engenharia & Construção — the heavy infrastructure arm of Novonor — continues to be the national benchmark in the sector, according to the Ranking of Brazilian Engineering, published in September by O Empreiteiro magazine. The company has completed more than 3,000 projects in 37 countries (including subways, railways, power plants, bridges, and airports) and currently employs 18,000 professionals of different nationalities across more than 30 contracts in countries in the Americas and Africa.

“Companies represent productive strength, the capacity for innovation, and the talent of our people. They generate jobs, develop technologies, and support the country’s sovereignty. Strengthening our companies is defending the development of Bahia and Brazil. We are a proudly Bahian business group and, despite the challenges of recent years, we have preserved our greatest asset: people,” emphasized Marcelo Gentil, Head of Institutional and Government Relations at Novonor.

60 years of social transformation

If engineering opened physical paths, it was through education that Norberto Odebrecht paved the future of thousands of people. Founded in 1965, the Norberto Odebrecht Foundation (FNO) celebrates six decades of commitment to human, social, and sustainable development. Through PDCIS — the social program conceived by Norberto himself in 2003 — the Foundation has already impacted more than 700,000 people, especially in rural communities in the Lower South of Bahia.

“We carry in our DNA the commitment to human development. In a world where inequalities persist, the Foundation stands out for believing that true development cannot be limited to economic growth — it must reach people, their families, and their communities,” said Cristiane Nascimento, FNO’s director and the institution’s representative at the ceremony.

Cristiane also highlighted that PDCIS reflects Norberto’s belief in the human being as an agent of transformation. “In the Lower South of Bahia, what we see is the materialization of an ideal: that integrated and sustainable territorial development is possible when we invest in people. Celebrating the Foundation’s 60 years is also celebrating the man who believed in the power of ideas and in the power of people,” she stated.

Among the morning’s emotional testimonials, farmer Jailton Ribeiro — a beneficiary of FNO’s social program and graduate of the Casa Familiar Rural of Presidente Tancredo Neves (CFR-PTN) — shared his story as living proof of this impact. “It is a great pride to be here honoring Dr. Norberto. And even more emotional for someone whose life was changed by the Casas Familiares Rurais, which were born from his dream. Before, we produced 15 tons of cassava per hectare; with the technical knowledge we received, we reached 30. It is a huge change,” he said.

Norberto Odebrecht Neto, the founder’s grandson and a member of FNO’s Board of Trustees, represented the family at the tribute. “Today is a very symbolic day for all of us. My grandfather learned early in life, still in his childhood, the importance of discipline. He was a thoughtful, affectionate, and humorous man. He left a vast legacy for our society — a legacy that remains alive to this day,” he stated.

The Solemn Table

More than a recognition ceremony, the event was a tribute to the life of a man who believed in the power of work and education as drivers of transformation — values that remain alive in the organizations he created. The Solemn Table was formed by individuals and institutions relevant to the State of Bahia and to Norberto Odebrecht’s history.

Participating in the tribute were Vicente Mattos, President of the Civil Construction Committee of the Bahia Federation of Industries (FIEB); Paulo Cavalcanti, President of the Superior Council of the Bahia Commercial Association (ACB); Humberto Miranda, President of the Bahia Agriculture and Livestock Federation (FAEB); Ângelo Calmon de Sá, former Minister and friend of Norberto Odebrecht; Kelsor Fernandes, President of the Fecomércio System Bahia; Dom Emanuel d’Able do Amaral, Abbot of the Order of Saint Benedict in Bahia; Joaci Góes, President of the Bahia Geographic and Historical Institute (IGHB) and member of the Bahia Academy of Letters; Joaquim Cardoso, Director of the Earth Conservation Organization (OCT) and former advisor to Norberto Odebrecht; and João Leão, Federal Deputy.

The special session can be watched by clicking here.