Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has appointed Mrs Victoria Samson, popularly known as “BOVAS,” as the new Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo. The announcement was made on May 10, 2026, following the end of the tenure of the outgoing Chancellor, Apostle Folorunso Alakija, who served the institution from 2016 to 2026.
The appointment was confirmed in a statement signed by the state government spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, and posted on the Osun State official X handle on Sunday.
Before the new appointment was announced, the Osun State Government paid a celebration visit to Apostle Folorunso Alakija on Friday, May 8, 2026, to formally appreciate her decade of service to the university. Governor Adeleke used the occasion to acknowledge her contributions, particularly the donation of a major medical facility to the institution.
“Her impact remains a living legacy, especially the donation of the multi-billion naira Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital to Osun State University,” he said.
Turning to the incoming Chancellor, the Governor spoke glowingly of Mrs Samson’s record in business and public life.
“We recognize with appreciation your distinct effort to make life easy for consumers of petroleum products. We celebrate you and present you as a symbol of decency, honesty, integrity, and humanity in our society,” Adeleke said.
He added, “We congratulate you on behalf of the government and people of Osun State on your appointment as Chancellor of Osun State University. Your record of integrity and service is a source of pride to our state.”
Mrs Victoria Samson is an Iree indigene from Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State, born on December 5, 1949. As the founder of BOVAS Oil and Gas Company, she has built one of the most recognisable names in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector over several decades. What started as a single filling station has grown under her leadership into a nationwide network of over 200 service stations employing more than 2,000 Nigerians as of December 2025.
Her achievements in the industry are well documented. She holds the Texaco Petroleum franchise and made history in 1990 as the first Nigerian to win the Texaco Latin America and West Africa (LAWA) Award for Best Overall Dealer. She has also served as Matron of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and is a Board of Trustees member of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing Association (DAPPMA).
On the academic and leadership side, Mrs Samson holds a Professional Diploma in Marketing and has completed executive programmes at Harvard Business School in 2013 and IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.
Her appointment is expected to bring a strong blend of business experience, integrity, and leadership to UNIOSUN as the university continues its academic and infrastructural growth.
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