If you live on campus at Fordham Lincoln Center, there’s a good chance you know Samson “Sam” Omotayo. Even if you don’t, he definitely knows you.

Omotayo is one of the security guards working at McMahon Hall’s front desk; he’s the one who checks your Fordham ID when you walk in the building, stops non-Fordham infiltrators from entering and sometimes acts as the go-between for food delivery services.

But his impact on the residential community is much bigger than what his job description entails. For many students, Omotayo is a real friend and confidant. Despite the familiarity of his presence on campus, there’s a side, a history, to Omotayo that most students and staff don’t know. 

“I didn’t know the world was bigger than Nigeria. My transition from one country to another didn’t just change my perception of reality, it changed me as a person.” Sam Omotayo

Omotayo was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. He studied computer science in college there, and though he enjoys the subject, he didn’t feel like lecture-style learning was right for him. He felt like he could learn more on his own, so he began teaching himself coding and programming. 

“People have different ways of learning,” Omotayo explained. “The idea that you can only teach people one way eliminates so much potential.” 

Omotayo left Lagos without his degree but kept the skills he needed to continue his pursuit of knowledge. Then, at 24, he made the decision to move to New York. Understandably, the change was a dramatic one.

“I didn’t know the world was bigger than Nigeria. My transition from one country to another didn’t just change my perception of reality, it changed me as a person,” Omotayo said. 

Suddenly, so many things were new, and Omotayo began to fall in love with the possibilities around him. “I started realizing that people are different, and there are possibly an unlimited different types of people out there. Now, that was cool,” Omatayo said. Although he was wearing a mask, there was the sound of a smile as he spoke. 

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In New York, Omotayo continued teaching himself to code and picked up a job as a security guard to make money. One day, his supervisor asked if he would be interested in working at Fordham. Omotayo didn’t really care where they sent him; a job is a job. That was about four years ago. Now, he’s grateful that luck brought him to Fordham Lincoln Center; his coworkers and the environment make the job an enjoyable one.

“I’ve never worked somewhere where I just like every person I work with,” Omotayo said. “You get freedom here as long as you do a good job.” 

And believe me, Omotayo does a good job as a guard. Students come up to the desk often just to chat with him, but Omotayo’s eyes are always on the door. He watches like a hawk and doesn’t miss a thing. But his trademark is his personality.

“There’s some amazing people in this world, and if you don’t put yourself out there you’re going to miss them. The students here are so friendly; people like that make it easy to get up and come to work.” Sam Omotayo

“He makes living on campus feel like home, because he’s so personable and authentic,” said Patricia Angeles, Fordham College at Lincoln Center ’21 and a residential assistant in the building where Omotayo works.

Ironically, Omotayo doesn’t think of himself as a particularly friendly person. He just enjoys talking to people. It’s one thing he’s always loved about New York. 

“I just talk to folks, we’re all humans,” Omotayo said. “There’s some amazing people in this world, and if you don’t put yourself out there you’re going to miss them. The students here are so friendly; people like that make it easy to get up and come to work.” 

What Omotayo may not realize is that he makes it easier for some Fordham students to get up every day, too. He recalled the story of a student who came to the front desk one night with a lot on their mind. The student spoke for hours about their troubles while he listened, in the way he often does to those who are looking to vent to a friendly ear. But this time was different; weeks later, he was approached by the student’s parents. They said the student had been suicidal that night but had been turned around by their conversation with Omotayo. The family even took him to dinner as thanks.

“They were just really good people,” he fondly recalls, nodding and leaning back deep in his chair. “That is my favorite memory of my job at Fordham.”

College is often a big adjustment for students, and sometimes an alienating one. The ever-changing bustle of classes, jobs, clubs and new friends can create the feeling of a lack of permanence in our lives. But having someone there on the best and worst days, even if only to talk for a few minutes, can provide the grounding some students need to get through the day.

This is why Omotayo is so important to the Fordham community. But he doesn’t plan on being around forever; he wants to continue improving his computer science skills so that he can help people back in Nigeria. His job at Fordham is just a stepping stone toward that goal. Omotayo wants to develop a financial planning app that can help people save up their money, invest and plan for retirement. 

“People don’t get to retire in Nigeria unless they’re wealthy,” Omotayo said. “I want to change that.”

So although Omotayo is officially a security guard in McMahon Hall, he’s really more of a traveler, a computer scientist, a conversationalist, a friend and, most importantly, an indispensable part of what makes Fordham feel like home.

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, please contact the number below immediately. 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (NSPL)

1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Fordham University, President McShane and The Observer encourage Fordham students to reach out for support or to get help on campus by contacting the numbers listed below. 

Counseling Center:

Rose Hill: (718) 817-3725

Lincoln Center: (212) 636-6225

Campus Ministry:

Rose Hill: (718) 817-4500

Lincoln Center: (212) 636-6267

Students may also contact a commuter assistant, resident assistant or resident director at any time to request assistance or to talk, and can contact Public Safety at (718) 817-2222 for assistance at any time.