Ezinihitte Development Association honours Founder of THE STRIVAD Foundation, Amb Iro

By Chigozie Uzosike…

It was moment of exhilaration, joy, fanfare and excitement as the Founder/President of THE STRIVAD FOUNDATION (TSF) and Chairman of STRIVAD GROUP Inc, HRtn. Ambassador High Chief Dr. Uche Iro JP, the Chinemeze 1 of Eziudo Ancient Kingdom, Nigeria, was being honoured with the “Golden Service Award of Excellence“ by the Ezinihitte Development Association (EDA) the Apex Socio-Cultural Association in Ezinihitte-Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria.

Dr Uche Iro JP (Chinemeze 1 of Eziudo Ancient Kingdom, Nigeria)

The Award giving was part of the highlights that marked the annual colourful Oji Ezinihitte Cultural Festival celebration which took place on the 1st. of January 2026 at Eziudo, Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria.

The Oji festival is the most important cultural event of the Ezinihitte, Mbaise people. It is hosted yearly in turns by the different Ancient communities in Ezinihitte.

The highly respected special Award was received on behalf of Amb. High Chief Dr. Iro who is based in Germany and was unavoidably absent during the Oji Ezinihitte Cultural Festival celebration, by a high powered official delegation of his international charity organisation THE STRIVAD FOUNDATION (TSF).

Speaking during the official handover ceremony of the Award documents, the leader of the EDA Representatives, Nze Barr. R.I.C Ahaneku, noted that the Award giving was based purely on merit and quality recommendation considering the exemplary philanthropic gestures of the Award recipient Amb. High Chief Dr. Uche Iro who through his charity foundation, has consistently and positively impacted on many lives and communities within Ezinihitte and beyond since more than three decades now.

THE STRIVAD FOUNDATION (TSF) official delegation led by TSF Director of Programs Development, Dr. Sir Nwokocha receiving the “Golden Service Award of Excellence“ on behalf of Amb High Chief Dr. Uche Iro from the official representatives of Ezinihitte Development Association (EDA) led by the PG Nze Barr. R.I.C Ahaneku stated that it has become very difficult nowadays, to see such a true philantropist like Amb. Dr. Uche Iro who consistently gives back to the society without expecting anything in return.

He went further to state that It was on the account of this narrative that the leadership of Ezinihitte Development Association (EDA) considered Amb. Dr. Iro more than worthy and deserving of the highly respected honour.

In his comment, the Director Programs Development and leader of the TSF representatives at the event, Dr. Sir Tobias Nwokocha, thanked the EDA on behalf of Amb. High Chief Dr. Iro and assured them of his sincere and humble gratitude for the honour given to him.

Further in his speech, Dr. Nwokocha reconfirmed that the recipient Dr. Uche Iro is a true philantropist, who in a very exemplary way, through sponsoring the many social intervention programs of THE STRIVAD FOUNDATION (TSF) since many decades, has positively touched so many lives and communities not only in Ezinihitte but also all over Nigeria and globally too. He reemphasized that Dr. Iro who is a UN-Goodwill Ambassador, an international investor and a serial enterpreneur with investment portfolios in the Real Estate, Healthcare, Hospitality and the Finance sectors, has not only been a dependable souce of succour and joy for the poor and needy through philantropy, he has equally provided employment and other resourceful opportunities for many Nigerians both locally in Nigeria and in Germany.

Dr. Nwokocha reassured the EDA representatives that the Award recipient remains firmly committed towards enhancing human capacity and community development in Ezinihitte. He promised them that he will see to it that the Award gets to the recipient soonest and will thereafter revert to them.

It would be recalled that THE STRIVAD FOUNDATION (TSF) was founded by the Nigerian-German Entrepreneur, International Investor, Philantropist and Diplomat HRtn. Amb. High Chief Dr. Uche Iro JP. It is a globally active Non-Governmental Charity Foundation with offices in Nigeria.