December 14, 2022
By Office of Communications and Marketing
TO COMPETE AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, ATHLETES need a variety of skills, such as providing consistency and being a good teammate. For Amobi Okugo ’17, founder of the financial literacy company A Frugal Athlete, these skills have transitioned from the field into his day-to-day work.
A Frugal Athlete is an online financial media platform through which Okugo and his team promote productive financial practices and smart career decisions among professional athletes and student athletes. As a retired professional soccer player who was drafted after his freshman year in college, Okugo understands the importance of financial education for athletes.
“Playing soccer in the United States, I was very fortunate. But if you compare it to the other leagues, like NBA and NFL, we’re a little bit behind,” Okugo explained. “I wanted to create roadmaps that myself and athletes can use to find examples of other athletes that were doing it the right way with their money and their career decisions.”
To stay on top of the financial literacy game, A Frugal Athlete provides personal and professional services, workshops and online courses, as well as a blog and podcast. This winter, Okugo and co-authors will release “Becoming a Frugal Athlete,” which includes stories of how athletes can maximize financial opportunities.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about finding ways to leverage your time, to leverage your finances, leverage your control so you can make easier decisions and live a life well spent,” Okugo said.
In addition to empowering elite athletes, Okugo created the Ok U Go Foundation, a nonprofit organization creatively named after its founder. The Ok U Go Foundation provides children in underserved communities the tools to better understand financial literacy, leadership and the health and wellness principles of sport.
With both A Frugal Athlete and the Ok U Go Foundation, Okugo uses his education and experience to inspire others. In 2021, Okugo was honored by being on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for his outreach and business success. That type of recognition is not Okugo’s motivation, though.
“What brings me the most joy is when someone reaches out saying they loved a podcast or that they made a change and found financial success thanks to us,” Okugo said. “Figuring out different ways to provide roadmaps for our athletes and student athletes is what it’s all about for me.”
This story originally appeared in the Fall/Winter 2022 edition of UofL Magazine.
About the College of Education and Human Development:
Founded in 1968, the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is a vibrant community that prepares students for leadership in a variety of metropolitan settings including schools, public and private corporations, and governmental agencies.
CEHD embraces the University's mission to advance the intellectual, cultural, and economic development of our diverse communities and citizens. Our commitment to student success is unparalleled as we promote the highest levels of learning and social, emotional, and physical health and well-being for all children, individuals, and families.
Connect with the CEHD by following us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok or by visiting our main website.