Iroku

Osita Nkemakonam Valentine Iroku (June 15, 1970) is an author, documentary-maker, political scientist, lawyer and property developer. In addition to fostering several infrastructure and energy projects in the US, Africa and Middle East, he was an early proponent of HIV/AIDS education and vaccine research through his work with the United Nations, National Institute for Health, and the World Bank. He is most renowned, however for his authorship and publication of several books, magazines and articles celebrating human origin, development and culture. He is most criticized for the failures of several real estate ventures he initiated, which led to investor losses exceeding US$12 million between 1996 and 2008. His father is a general surgeon, author and politician. His mother is a doctor of education, midwife and nurse. In 2005, he married Ezinne Anyaragbu and had two children, Amara Angela and Rachel Chinemerem.
Biography
Early life
Osita Iroku was born in Kings County, Brooklyn, New York on June 15, 1970. He grew up between Essex County, New Jersey, and Enugu State, Nigeria; but spent the majority of his adult life in New York City.
Career
Mr. Iroku earned a Juris Doctorate with a concentration in International Law at New York University School of Law in May 1996, after having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with concentration in International Relations from The State University of New York at Stonybrook in May 1993. He immediately gained admission into New York University School of Law, and while there, worked as the Chief of Staff/Special Assistant to the Commissioner for the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal.
Upon graduation from law school, Mr. Osita N. Iroku entered the coal industry in 1995, wherein he led the design of The Coal Utilization and Refining Enterprise, Ltd. ("CURE") to redevelop the Okpara and Onyeama underground mines in Enugu State, Nigeria. Due to infrastructure constraints, the project was scaled down and reborn in as 2020 Energy Resources Ltd. Mr. Iroku received his Federal Mining License from the Ministry of Solid Minerals in 1996, and entered into a production sharing agreement with the Nigerian Coal Corporation in 1997. Under the agreement, he became the Managing Director for the development, mining, preparation, and marketing of coal at the opencast mine operation in Owukpa, Kogi State. This company became the first private entity to actually mine and market coal on a commercial scale in Nigeria.
From 2000 to 2004, Mr. Iroku has designed and planned other development projects for Ghana, Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda and urban America in his capacity as Chair of the Committee on African Affairs at the United Nations Association, and as a Board Advisor for the Braintree Institute.
Mr. Iroku continues to serve as a senior design and construction manager for various real estate development companies and minicipalities across the African Continent. Mr. Iroku also currently holds and manages commercial farmland, forestry reserves and coal reserves in Oji River, Nigeria; and is the executive producer of one of NIgeria's hit TV shows 'Married!'
Media Appearances
“Making A Difference: The History of the African Development Crisis” Broadcast on Cable Television in DC, VA and MD; June 2001
“Making A Difference: The HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Africa” Broadcast on Cable Television in DC, VA and MD; July 2001
“SUNY at Stony Brook Alumni Profiles: February’s Featured Alumnus” Published at http://www.career.sunysb.edu/students/alumni_profiles;
“Making A Difference: An Update on the Global War Against AIDS” Broadcast on Cable Television in DC, VA and MD; May 2002
“Africa Magazine: Issues Effecting African Immigrants to the US” Broadcast on Cable Television in MD; June 2002
“UN News and Updates: The United Nations in 2001” Broadcast on Cable Television in DC, VA and MD; July 2002
“Africa Magazine: The United Nations in African Affairs in 2001” Broadcast on Cable Television in MD; July 2002
Publications and Documentaries
“Japanese-Nigeria Trade Relations” The NATIONAL CONCORDE, August 5, 1992 issue.
“The Barbarians are at the Gate... Again: The Impending New Era of Industrial Regulation” The COMMENTATOR, November 10, 1993 issue.
“The Changing of the Guard: New Trends in the Legal Profession” The COMMENTATOR, December 8, 1993 issue
“Nigeria’s Foreign Aid: Keeps Them Laughing All The Way To The Bank” The FOREIGN POLICY E-JOURNAL, September 2000
“The Advancement of Women as an Issue of Human Rights” (co-authored) The UN VISION, October 2000 issue
Book Review: “Community Conflicts in Nigeria: Management, Resolution, and Transformation” PERSPECTIVES ON POLITICAL SCIENCE, Winter 2000-2001 issue
Book Review: “Nigeria: Politics of Transition and Governance, 1986-1996” PERSPECTIVES ON POLITICAL SCIENCE, Spring 2001 issue
“The UN’s War Against HIV-AIDS” Television Program, aired June-December 2001
“The History of the African Development Crisis” Television Program, aired June-December 2001
“The Future of US-China Relations” Television Program, aired June-December 2001
“America’s Post-Attack Foreign Stature” The UN VISION, September 2001 issue
“A ‘Best Practices’ Curriculum for International Peer Counseling” UNANCA Publication, December 2001
“Tools for Teachers at the Frontline of the War Against HIV” UNANCA Publication, February 2002
“An Update on the Global War Against HIV-AIDS” Television Program, aired May-December 2002
“US Public Opinion and its Effect on American Foreign Policy” Television Program, aired May-December 2002
“The Post September 11 Role of the United Nations” Television Program, aired May-December 2002
"Meles Zenawi and Ethiopia's Renaissance"
"Sites and Sounds of Oji River Nigeria"
"A New River City for Ogun State": The Chief Economic Adviser to Governor Daniels, Ms. Yosola Akinbi chaired a meeting with representatives of Ikeja Hotel PLC for the development of Kara Water front along the Lagos - Ibadan Expressway. Ms Akinbi said the State Government was looking for genuine investors to invest in the State, adding that the company has made the right choice by choosing the State for the housing project. She urged the organization to speed up all procedures concerning the project to enable it to take off on time. At a presentation, the representative of Ikeja Hotel Ltd, Barrister Osita Iroku said the company intended to develop a new city at Kara that would provide accommodation with modern amenities. He said the new city would comprise residential accommodation, parks, play ground, museum and other facilities that could be compared to renowned estates in developed countries. According to Mr. Iroku the project would commence with the clearing of the site, engineering survey, sand filling and architectural design while the construction work would be in phases.
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