Nigerian native named Oakton's male student-athlete of the month

Oakton Community College sophomore Bukola “Bukky” Abdulwahab-Omotose (Ilorin, Nigeria/British Nigerian Academy) has been named as the college’s male student-athlete of the month for September. The student-athlete of the month is presented nine months during the year to one male and one female student-athlete who display excellence in the areas of academics, athletics and campus involvement or service.

Abdulwahab-Omotose is an explosive forward for the Oakton Owls men’s soccer team who leads the squad in scoring. He also sports a 3.2 GPA and is actively involved at the college as a student ambassador.

“To be recognized with this award means the world to me,” Abdulwahab-Omotose says. “It shows I’m on the right path and appreciated for my efforts. I’m especially appreciative because it will help encourage others that their success on and off the field doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Soccer has been ingrained in his brain since he was two years old. Growing up in Africa, Abdulwahab-Omotose would play the sport any chance he had.

“In Nigeria, I would play soccer anywhere I could,” he says. “We would make a soccer field using sticks and chairs or play on concrete. I’ve been playing the sport as long as I can remember and learned a lot about soccer from my older brothers. As kids, we would play up to six hours a day or until it got too dark outside. I took so much pride in playing and it was a family joke that if my grandmother was in goal, I would shoot right past her and not have any pity on her.”

Abdulwahab-Omotose, who can run the 100-meter dash in 11.56 seconds, says soccer is second nature to him.

“The game is about speed and I enjoy giving defenders fits,” he says. “I want to score every time I touch the ball and want to win every game. To me, soccer is a way of life. When I’m on the field, nothing else matters. I feel so comfortable playing the game and its way of channeling energy in a positive way.”

Owls head coach Steve Brody says that Abdulwahab-Omotose is deserving of the honor: “Bukky is a key player for us as he provides enormous fire power whenever he’s on the field. Also, he is a tremendous, talented and dedicated student-athlete. Bukky is a leader on the field and a role model for other student-athletes off the field.”

When he isn’t scoring for the Owls, Abdulwahab-Omotose enjoys making an impression on others as a student ambassador. Launched in 2006, the program gives current students the opportunity to share their positive Oakton experiences with prospective students—and to serve as a resource for new students making the leap to college.

“I love interacting with other people and encouraging others to want to come to the college,” he says. “I can relate to visiting students, especially international students. As an ambassador, I try to make everyone feel comfortable and tell them how good the education is here.”

The Chicago resident has been serving as a student ambassador since 2017 and says the position has been an invaluable part of his college education.

“It shows my opinion matters and helps me with my public speaking,” he explains. “Being a student ambassador also provides me with a lot of confidence because I’m always talking with people and has taught me how to better communicate with others.”