CHRISTIAN OKOYE, former All-Pro running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, in 1990, founded The Christian Okoye Foundation to help underprivileged children assume their role in society through education and sports. “The Nigerian Nightmare”, as he was known, has spent his adult years perfecting the art of sculpting the human body.
Growing up in Nigeria, Christian played soccer until he was 17, and was a sprinter and thrower on his high school track team. When he arrived to Azusa Pacific University in 1982, Christian won seven National Titles in shot Put, discus and the hammer and amassed 17 All American honors in track & field and football.
In 1984, despite having attained marks more than sufficient to qualify, Christian was omitted from his Country’s 1984 Olympic team. Frustrated, he abandoned track and field and joined his college football team. Having played football for a mere three years, Christian was drafted in 1987 by the Chiefs in the second round. During his seven seasons in Kansas City, Christian set a number of Chiefs rushing records, including total yards in a season, attempts in a season, touchdowns in a season, attempts in a single game, 100-yard games in a season, and was the first Chiefs running back to rush for 1,000 yards for more than one season.
Christian’s outstanding 1989 season culminated in an array of awards, including Running Back of the year (101 in Kansas City & NFL Alumni) and first team All-Pro(2x). The National Football League Players Association voted Christian the American Football Conference MVP, and he received the Mackie award for most touchdowns in the AFC. Christian garnered Most Valuable Player honors from the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Quarterback Club of Washington DC named him the League MVP. Christian received the Courage Award in Baltimore, which was named after Ed Block. Okoye is now a member of NAIA Track and Field Hall Of Fame, Kansas City Chiefs Hall Of Fame/Ring Of Fame, Missouri State Sports Hall Of Fame and Senior Bowl Hall Of Fame. In 2006, Christian became the President/Founder of the California Sports Hall Of Fame
During the 1993 season, Christian retired to face different challenges in his life, which includes spending time with his 3 children: daughters Tiana and Laylah, and son Kosi.
Christian works with organizations to motivate their members to focus on, and achieve, their goals by emphasizing drive and commitment. Christian is available for motivational speaking, and can work with your team, business, church or other organization to help members achieve their goals.
Guest Appearances
Making the Pro-Bowl two times and first team All-Pro two times without knowing anything about American football prior to his arrival to Azusa Pacific University in 1982, Christian knows a lot about dedication, perseverance, hard work and whatever words you can find to describe impossible made possible. “There is a blue print in life that relates to everything we do” Says Mr. Okoye. His main area of topic is motivation; his motivational words bring home the idea that most things can be simple if approached the right way.
Christian is available for Guest Appearances/Speaking during company meetings, parties and gatherings that require client entertainment or motivation. For inquiries, fill out the Contact Page form for details.
Philanthropy
Ever grateful for the opportunities that athletics afforded him, since the summer of 1990, Christian works to motivate at-risk youth to define and achieve their goals by emphasizing the importance of drive and commitment. Through his Foundation’s free summer sports camps, the “Nigerian Nightmare” uses sports to help kids understand the importance of education, community, focus and drive.