“I often reflect on my journey from Nigeria to the United States, and every time I do, one name stands out as a defining force Mr. Godwin Owinje. The opportunity I received to attend Quality Education Academy in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on a basketball scholarship did not happen by chance; it was the direct result of his guidance, his belief in my potential, and his tireless commitment to my future.

Coming from Nigeria, I faced uncertainty, cultural challenges, and limited exposure to the competitive level of basketball in the U.S. It was Mr. Owinje who stepped in at a crucial moment and provided not only direction but also hope. He recognized something in me that I had not yet fully seen in myself. He pushed me to refine my skills, encouraged me to embrace discipline, and taught me the importance of character, resilience, and preparation.

What truly set him apart was his willingness to advocate for me. He reached out to programs, shared my story, and made sure that coaches and schools understood my potential. His dedication went beyond mentorship he became a pillar of support when I needed one the most. Through his efforts, I was blessed with the life-changing opportunity to attend QEA and pursue both academic and athletic growth.

I am profoundly grateful for Mr. Owinje’s influence on my life. His belief in me opened doors I never imagined I could walk through, and his impact will remain with me forever. He did more than guide me he helped shape my future.”

I would not be here in the U.S and be the man that I am today if I never met Godwin Owinje. He is the SOLE reason I was able to chase  my dreams in America. He was the only person that helped me obtain a high school basketball scholarship. Growing up, I attended to numerous basketball camps in Nigeria and South Africa. Over those years multiple people said they would help but only ONE person helped and came back to deliver me a high school scholarship. The opportunity I received to attend National Christian Academy in Fort Washington, Maryland on a basketball scholarship was all Godwin’s doing. His belief in my potential, and will to want to help African kids like myself reshaped my future.

I went on to play at Loyola Marymount University on a full ride, received my undergraduate degree in Finance and an MBA as well. Today, I am a financial advisor to NBA, NFL & other professional athletes.

Coming from Nigeria, especially as a guard/wing, your chances of receiving a scholarship to play basketball in America was slim to none back then. Godwin stepped in at a crucial moment when I began to lose hope and he provided that for me.

What truly set him apart was his willingness to advocate for me. He reached out to programs, shared my story, and made sure that coaches and schools looked my way. Godwin is more than just someone that helped me come to the United States. He is someone that I can always call on for advice, support or anything I need.

I can’t even put a price of what I owe Mr. Owinje. Sometimes I ponder if Godwin never stepped in when he did, what direction would my life have gone in. 

Thank you Godwin 🙏🏿

Before I met Godwin Owinje, my pursuit of a basketball scholarship in the United States felt like an endless cycle of disappointment. I attended numerous camps and trainings in Nigeria, each time hoping that the opportunity I longed for would finally arrive. Instead, the conditions were often questionable, and the promises seemed more like servitude than genuine pathways to success. My dream of combining education with basketball in America was slipping away until one day, at a camp where Godwin made an appearance, everything changed. His presence marked the turning point in my journey, opening a door I had almost given up on.
From that encounter, my life took on a new trajectory. Godwin’s intervention gave me the chance to play college basketball first at the College of Southern Idaho and later at California State University, Fullerton. Those experiences not only shaped me as an athlete but also as a student, providing me with a foundation for the future. I earned my degree without the burden of student loans, and along the way, I built a life in the United States. Today, I am proud to be an American citizen, blessed with a loving wife and two amazing children. The opportunities I’ve had both on the court and beyond stem directly from the path Godwin helped me find.
Now, as a financial advisor, I dedicate my career to helping individuals, families, and businesses achieve their financial goals and dream a journey I recognize might never have been possible without Godwin’s belief in me. Though the journey was mine to take, his direction set the path before me. For that, I am forever grateful. I could never repay him enough, and I carry deep appreciation for the role he played in my journey. Thank you, Godwin, for seeing potential in me when others did not, and for giving me the chance to build a life filled with purpose, family, and fulfillment.

Growing up in Warri, Delta State, Nigeria the odds of earning an opportunity to study or play basketball in the United States were incredibly slim. Yet, in the midst of those challenges, Godwin Owinje became the bridge that changed the entire direction of my life. He believed in my potential long before the path was clear, and he pushed me to work, prepare, and trust that something bigger was possible. Without his guidance, mentorship, and determination, I would never have made it out of Warri to pursue a future I only dreamed about.

Through his unwavering support, I earned a scholarship that opened the door for me to attend Our Savior New American School.
Coming from Nigeria, stepping into a competitive high school basketball environment in the United States felt like a miracle and it was Godwin who made sure I was ready for every step. He connected me with the right people, encouraged me through every challenge, and reminded me that the opportunity was a blessing I had to honor with discipline and effort. His belief in me transformed that slim chance into a real path that ultimately led me to play Division I basketball at Sacred Heart University.

Today, that opportunity has shaped not only my life but my entire family’s future. I am now a father of three beautiful children who are all excelling in school and thriving in sports proof of how one act of belief can impact generations. When I look at my kids’ achievements, I see the ripple effect of the chance Godwin helped me receive. His impact goes far beyond basketball; he helped rewrite my family’s story, and I am forever grateful for his leadership, his heart, and the role he played in turning what once seemed impossible into a living testimony.

Thankful for:
I want to express my deepest gratitude to Mr. Godwin Owinje whose support made it possible for me to move to America and pursue my dream.

Godwin is the reason I’m here in America living the American dream. He saw my potential and gave me an opportunity to pursue my basketball dream. I went on to play at Bishop McNamara high school in Maryland, from there I went to college on a full athletic scholarship and got my degree in economics at the university of Pittsburgh.

Moving to America was more than a physical transition for me, it was the beginning of a dream I had carried in my heart for years and Mr. Godwin made that possible for me and I’m forever grateful.

My journey would not be what it is today without Godwin Owinje, the man who discovered me in Nigeria and recognized a future for me long before I ever imagined it myself. I was just a young man participating in the Nigerian Big Man Camp, surrounded by some of the tallest and strongest athletes in the nation, when Godwin first took notice of me. Out of hundreds, I was selected into the Top 50, and that moment became the first spark that would ignite everything that followed.

Godwin didn’t just identify my potential—he became the bridge to a life I never knew was possible. Through his mentorship and belief in me, I was granted a life-changing opportunity: a scholarship to Montrose Christian School in the United States. There, I had the privilege of playing for legendary Hall of Fame coach Stu Vetter, a man whose leadership and discipline helped shape not only my game, but my character.

From Montrose, I continued to build my future through education and athletics. I attended the University of South Florida, a place that pushed me to grow both on and off the court. Later, determined to expand my opportunities and sharpen my skills beyond sports, I earned my MBA from King University—a milestone that remains one of my proudest achievements.

Eventually, my journey led me into the world of professional wrestling, where I now stand as a WWE Superstar. Stepping into that arena—onto the grandest stages in sports entertainment—has been one of the greatest honors of my life. I have had the privilege of performing in three WrestleManias, moments that will forever live in my heart.

When people see where I am today—on global stages, in arenas filled with thousands—they often see the final chapters. But the true beginning of my story is the day Godwin Owinje discovered me. Without his vision, guidance, and belief, none of this would have unfolded the way it did. He opened the door. He pointed me toward the path. And he stood behind me as I found the courage to walk it.

For that, and for everything that has come from it, I am forever grateful.

This tribute is dedicated to a man who has played an extraordinary role in my life, Godwin Owinje. To describe Godwin merely as a mentor would be an understatement; he has been a brother, a guide, and at many crucial moments, the parent figure I needed most. My journey would not be what it is today without his unwavering presence.

I first met Godwin in 2006 when he came to Nigeria to conduct a basketball camp. I was just a teenager, eager and impressionable. He coached us with passion, teaching the essential fundamentals of basketball, but it was his belief in me that changed the course of my life. His guidance during that camp opened the doors that led me to Basketball Without Borders in South Africa in 2007, where he once again coached me, this time to an All-Star selection.

Godwin didn’t stop there. It was through his strong recommendation that I was selected for the Jordan Brand Classic in Madison Square Garden in 2007. He personally supported me through the process, even accompanying me to the U.S. Embassy in Lagos to resolve visa issues, going as far as taking me and my friend Jordan Omogbehin directly to the embassy without an appointment, just to ensure our dreams didn’t fall apart.

When I arrived in the United States for the Jordan Brand Classic, Godwin became my primary guardian, guiding me toward the right school opportunities and helping me secure the scholarship that allowed me to continue my education.

In July 2008, tragedy struck when I suffered a career-ending ankle injury while playing for an AAU team in Orlando. At a time when my future felt uncertain, Godwin stepped into a role far beyond mentorship. He coordinated my medical care, spoke with doctors, and made every effort to help me recover not just physically, but emotionally as well. He helped me connect with high schools that would support my recovery and education, ensuring I stayed on track.

When my rehab was complete, he helped me return to the AAU circuit, spoke to colleges on my behalf, and guided me in making the best decision for my future, a decision that ultimately led me to play both basketball and football the University of Miami, and become a professional athlete with the Miami Dolphins organization. Godwin has walked with me through some of the most defining stages of my life. Though our bond started with basketball, he became the big brother and father figure I needed as a young immigrant navigating a foreign country. His influence didn’t stop in my teenage years; he continues to check on me, support my professional boxing career, advise me in my education, and even guide me through personal relationships. He frequently travels to my city just to make sure I am doing well, no matter how busy his schedule may be in that time frame.

As someone who shares my Nigerian roots, Godwin has kept me grounded in my culture and traditions. He reminds me constantly of where I come from and the values that shaped me. He helps me stay connected to my identity and to the journey that has brought me this far.

He also plays a powerful role in uniting our alumni, the brothers we grew up with, ensuring that our shared history remains alive and that our bonds remain strong. For all he has done and continues to do, I am forever grateful. Godwin has been a beacon in my life, from my teenage years into adulthood, and I look forward to continuing this lifelong brotherhood with him. I wish him nothing but the very best in all his future endeavors.

Thank you, Godwin, for everything.