Iroku

Infobox Person
name = Osita N. Iroku
birth_date = birth date|1970|06|15|mf=y
birth_place = Kings County, Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, U.S.
occupation = Author, Lawyer
parents = Humphrey Iroku
Rachel Chigozie Onyebeke Iroku
children = Amara Angela Iroku

Osita Nkemakonam Valentine IROKU (June 15, 1970) is an American author, [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3341/is_/ai_n8063237] ] documentary film-maker, [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvTcd85h5sY] ] political scientist, [ [http://www.sunysb.edu/polsci/misc/alumni_award.html] ] lawyer and industialist. [ [http://www.southjerseyhomes.com/homes/vasold0499.htm] ] In addition to fostering several infrastructure and energy projects in the US, Africa and Middle East, [ [http://www.eastcamden.org/111005%20draft%20minutes.pdf] ] 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, [ [http://www.very-clever.com/books/author-Osita] ] magazines and articles [ [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb3341/is_/ai_n8063237] ] celebrating human origin, development and culture. [ [http://www.blogtogod.com/index.php?blog=5&disp=comments] ] 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 one child, Amara Angela Iroku.

Biography

Early life

Osita Iroku was born in Kings County, Brooklyn, New York. 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. [http://www.career.sunysb.edu/students/alumni_profiles] 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, [http://www.goodnewsbroadcast.com/Politics.html] and as a Board Advisor for the Braintree Institute.

Mr. Iroku continues to serve as a senior design and construction manager for Morningsun Real Estate Holding Company LLC in NY, Alpha Acquisition’s & Development Group in NY, and for Delta Acquisitions & Development Group in DE. Mr. Iroku also currently holds and manages commercial farmland, forestry reserves and coal reserves in Oji River, Nigeria.

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; February 2002 “Good News Broadcast: Interviews in Public Relations, Politics and Government” Broadcast over the Internet via http://www.goodnewsbroadcast.com/Politics.html; January 2002 “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

“Japanese-Nigeria Trade Relations” The NATIONAL CONCORDE, August 5th, 1992 issue “The Barbarians are at the Gate... Again: The Impending New Era of Industrial Regulation” The COMMENTATOR, November 10th, 1993 issue “The Changing of the Guard: New Trends in the Legal Profession” The COMMENTATOR, December 8th, 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 11th Role of the United Nations” Television Program, aired May-December 2002

Public Speeches and Presentations

Department of Political Science Commencement Address State University of New York at Stony Brook, May 2001 “The Genesis and Development of HIV and AIDS in Africa” UNANCA African Affairs Reception and Roundtable Discussion, June 2001 “America's Post-Attack Relations With Africa" Rose Foundation Annual Dinner: Keynote Address, November 2001 “AIDS in Africa: The Epidemic and Possibilities for Intervention” University of the District of Columbia: 2nd Annual Worlds Day, November 2001 “The United Nations Yesterday and Today: A Role for Esperanto” Esperanto Society Annual Meeting: Keynote Address, December 2001 “NGOs in the International Field” US State Department: Career Day, February 2002 “Lessons Learned from UN Grassroots Efforts in the War Against HIV in Africa” Black Professionals in International Affairs: Annual Convention, February 2002 “Informal HIV/AIDS Counseling of African Secondary School Students by African Teachers” Tools for Teachers at the Frontline of the War Against HIV Workshop, March 2002 “We Have A Purpose: The Meaning and Mission of the United Nations Association” Audio-Video Presentation aired at UNA Retreat, April 2002; and UNA Annual Meeting, May 2002 “The Promises We Aim to Keep: A Review of the Anti-HIV Learning Imitative” Audio-Video Presentation aired at Global Health Conference, May 2002

Notes & references

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