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About NGO
Although I have achieved success in my modeling and acting career, it has not been an easy ride. I have had to overcome numerous obstacles, both physically and mentally, to reach my dream.
I was born Ngoli Onyeka Okafor on the 30th of December, in Framingham, Massachusetts. My parents Clement and Rose Okafor are from the Ibo speaking region in Nigeria. Ngo is short for Ngoli that means joy in Ibo. I was named Ngoli because my parents were overjoyed at the birth a second son (moi) .
At the time that I was born my father was finishing up his PhD program at Harvard University. My family and I moved home to Nigeria shortly before my second birthday. The sixteen years that I spent growing up in Nigeria helped build the strength in character that has propelled me through all of life's challenges. Nigeria was a great place to grow up during the early years of my life. Nigeria was one of the richest countries in the world due to the oil boom. Several businesses flocked to Nigeria from all over the world, looking to take opportunity of the oil money. They subsequently brought their families over to join them. Due to such cultural diversity, I grew up with kids from Asia, Europe, the U.S.A., and other countries in Africa. I learned early in life that skin color was not as important as the content of a person's heart.
In the summer of 1994, a war seemed imminent in Nigeria. My parents did not want the entire family stuck in Nigeria, so they elected that I flee the country and take refuge in the United States. Shortly after my arrival to the United States, I got accepted into the University of Connecticut. After three years of school I took a job with the Connecticut Department of Transportation. Then I was off teaching engineers and architects how to draw using computers. The desire for life in a bigger city led me to take a job working for another computer company in New York City. Unfortunately, before I could really settle down and enjoy my new job, I was laid off.
Demoralized and confused, I pondered my next move. Then, one day in the gym, a photographer approached me and wanted to do a photo shoot with me. The shoot was such a fun experience, one I wanted to continue. Thus began the uphill battle of my career. Work was hard to come by because there were limited job opportunities for black models in the business. To this day, I stillI have people in influential positions tell me I am too big, too muscular, too tall, to grow my hair and all kinds of other insensitive comments which were meant to consciously or unconsciously break my spirit. Every door I tried to open was met with rejection, but I held on until I got my first job. It was with non other that than the Queen of soul Mary J. Blige and the Quenn Bee, rapper lil' Kim for MAC cosmetics. I started acting shortly afterwards by accident. I was looking for an agent's office and happened to walk in on an audition for a film for Major League Baseball. I went in with little preparation and a Xerox copy of my headshot. I got the job!!
Since then my work as a model has been featured in several magazines such as Vogue, Vibe, The source, ESPN magazine, Fortune magazine, Honey, W, among others. My work as an actor has been featured on TV and on video.
As my career continues to rise, I must stay grounded. I cannot forget the struggles and sacrifices that brought me to where I am today. I hope that my journey through life will serve as motivation and a shining example that dreams do come true if only you believe.
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