Ngo Okafor is an entrepreneur and trainer, a father and a philanthropist. He spent his childhood bedridden in Nigeria, where his dedication and hard work lead him to have his mother photo copy class notes when he was confined to the hospital to keep up with his school work. Ngo moved to the United States to study computer science at the University of Connecticut.
He took up boxing at the relatively advanced age of age of 31 and proceeded to win the Golden Gloves Championship two years in a row. Ngo built his personal training business into a successful model and picked up accolades such as being named one of New York’s “hottest trainers” by the New York Post. He has been quoted in publications as varied as Elle, Glamor, O, The Oprah Magazine and Men’s Health and he has been a guest on television programs like Good Day New York. Ngo has earned his loyal following by espousing a fitness belief that the mind is the most important muscle a person needs to develop. “Some days, even I feel like I can’t do it, “ he says. “Then I’m like Forget that. I’m the champion. I’m going to do it. And I do.”
When he’s not in the gym, Ngo works with the non-profit that he found, Champion Spirit Foundation (championspirit.org), which provides facilities in Nigeria where children can exercise and learn to box, free of charge, in an effort to raise their self-esteem.