THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
Germany-based Nigerian entrepreneur and philanthropist Chief (Dr) Uche E. Iro has received a Lifetime Humanitarian Service Award of Excellence from the South-East Zone of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ Zone C), in recognition of his more than three decades of philanthropic work and contributions to community development.
The award was presented on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, during the Congress of the NUJ Imo State Council. The occasion also featured the investiture of Dr Iro as a patron of the union’s South-East zone.
Dr Iro is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of STRIVAD Group of Companies and Founder and President of THE STRIVAD FOUNDATION (TSF), a charitable organisation dedicated to humanitarian intervention, capacity building and community development, with a particular focus on Nigeria. A successful businessman, Dr Iro’s companies include PhysioCenter-Stuttgart GbR (Germany), FitGym Healthcare Services GmbH (Germany), Strivad Ventures Limited (Germany/Nigeria), Iro Investment Group International Inc. (Nigeria/ Europe/ USA/United Arab Emirates).
The awardee was represented at the ceremony, which took place in Owerri, by Sir (Dr) Tobias Ugo Nwokocha, KSM, who received the award on his behalf.
Speaking at the event, NUJ Vice President for Zone C, Comrade Ezenwa Adiuku, described the honour as the first of its kind presented by the zone. He explained that the Union reserved its awards for individuals who had distinguished themselves through service to others. He urged the new patron to remain committed to the ideals for which he had been recognised and to support the Union in advancing its objectives.
In his response, Dr Nwokocha thanked the NUJ, particularly the Zone C leadership and its vice president, for recognising Dr Iro’s contributions to society. He described the award as well deserved and reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to its longstanding partnership with the journalists’ association.
He said the relationship between TSF and the NUJ had been built on cooperation, with the union providing valuable media support by publicising the foundation’s programmes and humanitarian interventions.
Nwokocha emphasised that Dr Iro’s philanthropic activities were not a recent undertaking but a commitment sustained for more than 30 years. “This philanthropic gesture did not begin today. It has been sustained for over 30 years, and the commitment to serving humanity will continue,” he said.
Scholarships and recognition for teachers
Providing an update on the foundation’s current activities, Nwokocha announced that its latest scholarship programme for university students had been concluded. Successful beneficiaries are expected to begin collecting their awards from designated offices in Owerri during the first week of November 2026.
He also announced that the foundation would organise the third edition of its special recognition programme for teachers on 30 November 2026.
Three serving teachers and three retired teachers from government-owned schools are to be selected for the honour in recognition of their dedication, sacrifices and contributions to education and community development.
According to Nwokocha, the programme reflects the foundation’s conviction that teachers play a fundamental role in shaping society and preparing future generations. He said their contributions deserved greater public recognition, particularly at a time when the teaching profession often receives insufficient appreciation.
The teacher recognition initiative is also linked to the foundation’s commitment to promoting educational excellence and a stronger reading culture in Nigeria.
More than three decades of philanthropy
Dr Uche Iro’s humanitarian work has its roots in his connection to his home community of Eziudo, in Ezinihitte Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State. His experience as an entrepreneur and investor in Germany and other parts of the world informed his decision to establish a more structured platform for supporting development initiatives in Nigeria.
THE STRIVAD FOUNDATION was therefore established in December 2003 as the corporate social responsibility arm of Iro Investment Group International. Registered as a charitable organisation in Germany and Nigeria, it focuses on education, youth empowerment, employment generation and community development.
Its interventions have included scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, skills-acquisition and apprenticeship programmes, financial support for young entrepreneurs, and initiatives to improve access to healthcare and essential community infrastructure.
In an earlier interview with The African Courier, Dr Iro explained that the foundation was established to channel his philanthropic efforts towards improving the quality of life in his home country. He has consistently advocated for a more active role of Africans in the diaspora in supporting development at home, arguing that meaningful contributions need not depend on the size of one’s financial resources.
Dr Iro’s recognition by the NUJ is also significant for the Nigerian community in Germany, where he has been active as an entrepreneur and diaspora development advocate.
His business interests have included companies operating in Germany and Nigeria, while his engagement with diaspora organisations has reflected his belief that Nigerians abroad can contribute to the development of their communities of origin through investment, knowledge transfer, philanthropy and partnerships.
He was also a founding member of the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation Europe (NIDOE) and served as pioneer Project Officer of its German chapter.
For Dr Iro, the NUJ award adds to a record of recognition for his community development work. More importantly, it places renewed attention on the contribution that members of the Nigerian diaspora can make to education, social welfare and grassroots development in their home communities.
Femi Awoniyi
