Building Bridges: Greek Heritage, Global Impact through the Eyes of Stavros Nicolaou

Christos Malaspinas – Stavros Nicolaou.

South African Pharmaceutical executive STAVROS NICOLAOU, who is of Hellenic Cypriot heritage, received the prestigious Hellenic ARGO Award in the Public Service category, in recognition of his on-going humanitarian efforts, from Greek President H.E Katerina Sakellaropoulou, in Athens-Greece.

This Award recognizing Stavros Nicolaou, also represents an opportunity to Greece and South Africa to reinforce ties and build on strong, established bilateral relations, since the formation of diplomatic relations in 1994, when both countries developed a close cooperation in a number of areas, including trade, investment, and tourism.

Nicolaou’s name has become synonymous with global activism in Healthcare-equality and access in developing, under-resourced, regions of the world – particularly his home continent of Africa. He is known for, amongst others:

• Advocating to establish sustainable regional Vaccines and other medical counter-measure manufacturing
• Assisting in the sourcing of ventilators and critical PPE for frontline healthcare workers, when there was a global shortage across the world during the Covid-19 pandemic
• Procuring access to vaccines for Africa during Covid pandemic after promises to Africa fell through
• Assisting in humanitarian relief efforts during severe crises such as the conflict in the Ukraine, earthquakes in Syria and Turkiye, and the explosion in Lebanon, with the majority of all effort being for South Africa
• Through his role in various business structures of Corporate South Africa, he is an active advocate and promoter of investment in South Africa.

The Interview By Christos Malaspinas

We met Mr. Nikolaou during the reception held in honor of him at the Embassy of South Africa on Thursday, November 2, two days after his award. He was friendly and courteous and immediately responded to our proposal for the interview to Panhellenic Post.com, which was divided into two parts for practical reasons: the first part of the interview took place before the start of the Reception, and the second part, the continuation, after the end of the reception, hence it is brief.

Question: How do you feel as a Greek born and raised in South Africa? How do you feel about being in Greece right now, and how often do you visit?

Nicolaou: Firstly, it’s always a wonderful feeling to be in Greece as with Cyprus . I feel a deep spiritual and historical connection with Greece. I am proudly Hellene – despite being South African, my pride in my Hellenic heritage remains unwavering. If you were to visit my house, you would find it resembling an ancient Greek shrine, adorned with numerous mosaics depicting Greek mythology, Greek Doric columns, and various frescoes and statues inspired by Greek legends. Whenever we have the opportunity to visit Greece, we inevitably feel that strong spiritual and historical bond. I typically manage to visit Greece approximately once every four years due to my frequent travels across the globe.

Question: What is the relationship between Greeks abroad and their home country, Greece?

Nicolaou: I believe that the relationship is steadily improving, largely owing to the efforts of Professor Hrisoulakis, the Secretary General for Greeks Abroad and Public Diplomacy, whom I had the pleasure of meeting three years ago and with whom I have maintained a close relationship. He has displayed a remarkable commitment and passion towards strengthening the bonds between the Greek Diaspora and the homeland. The recent recognition of the Argo Public Service Award further emphasizes the significance of reinforcing these ties between the two countries. It’s crucial to build a robust Hellenic network worldwide, considering the considerable wealth of expertise and experience within the 14 million strong Greek communities globally, with approximately 11 million residing in Greece and the remaining three to four million scattered across different nations. We must harness and leverage this collective knowledge to contribute towards building a more prosperous global society.

Question: Do you feel that there’s something the Greek government could do to strengthen these ties between Greeks living in Greece and Greeks abroad?

Nicolaou: Well, much of this effort depends on the unique circumstances within each country. Personally identifying as proudly South African, I recognize the diverse challenges and issues specific to South Africa, differing significantly from those encountered in countries such as the United States. Strengthening the connection between the Diaspora and the homeland demands a nuanced approach, emphasizing shared values and goals rather than differences. It necessitates an understanding of the local conditions in each respective country.

Question: How do you feel about being the recipient of the Hellenic Argo award from the Greek President, H.E. KATERINA Sakellaropoulou?

Nicolaou: I am immensely proud, deeply moved, and profoundly humbled to be honored with this prestigious award. Honestly, this recognition doesn’t solely belong to me but is a testament to the dedication of numerous teams I’ve had the privilege to work with throughout my career, including my devoted colleagues and friends as well as the support of our government. I would like to dedicate this award to advocate for the enhancement of global healthcare standards, particularly focusing on uplifting healthcare quality in Africa. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the stark disparities in healthcare access, underscoring the urgency of fostering global collaboration and promoting equitable healthcare systems worldwide. Additionally, it is imperative to utilize such accolades as an opportunity to forge partnerships and strengthen relationships, fostering a more harmonious and interconnected global community, especially amidst the current geopolitical challenges.

Q: Thank you very much.