Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has appointed renowned businesswoman and founder of BOVAS Oil and Gas Company, Mrs Victoria Samson, popularly known as “BOVAS,” as the new Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo.
The appointment follows the completion of the tenure of the immediate past Chancellor, Apostle Folorunso Alakija, who served the institution from 2016 to 2026.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the spokesperson to the Osun State Government, Olawale Rasheed, on Sunday.
Adeleke described the appointment as the beginning of a new phase of leadership for the institution, while commending the outgoing Chancellor for her impactful decade-long service to the university.
According to the governor, one of the lasting legacies of Apostle Alakija’s tenure was the donation of the multi-billion naira Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital to the university.
“The tenure of the former Chancellor ended on March 18, 2026, and the government of Osun State paid a celebration visit to Apostle Folorunso Alakija on Friday, May 8, 2026, to appreciate the immense support given to the university and Osun State,” the statement noted.
Speaking on the appointment of Mrs Samson, Adeleke praised her contributions to Nigeria’s petroleum sector and described her as a symbol of integrity, excellence, and humanity.
“We recognise and appreciate your commitment to making life easier for consumers of petroleum products. Your record of decency, honesty, integrity, and service remains a source of pride to Osun State,” the governor stated.
Mrs Samson, an indigene of Iree in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State, has built one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous oil and gas businesses.
Under her leadership, BOVAS Oil and Gas Company reportedly expanded from a single filling station to a nationwide network of over 200 stations, employing more than 2,000 Nigerians as of December 2025.
She also holds the Texaco Petroleum franchise and made history as the first Nigerian to win the Texaco Latin America and West Africa Award for Best Overall Dealer in 1990.
Beyond business, Mrs Samson has served in several industry leadership positions, including as Matron of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria across major depots and as a Board of Trustees member of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing Association of Nigeria.
Her academic and executive training includes a Professional Diploma in Marketing, leadership training at Harvard Business School in 2013, and executive education at IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.
Congratulating the new Chancellor, Adeleke expressed confidence in her ability to contribute meaningfully to the continued growth and development of UNIOSUN.
The governor added that her appointment is expected to strengthen the university’s leadership and support its academic and infrastructural advancement.
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