Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has approved the appointment of renowned businesswoman and founder of BOVAS Oil and Gas Company, Mrs Victoria Adunola Samson, as the new Chancellor of Osun State University.
A statement issued by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, said Mrs Samson, popularly known as Mama BOVAS, becomes the third Chancellor of the institution, succeeding renowned philanthropist and business magnate, Apostle Folorunso Alakija, whose tenure ended on March 18, 2026, after 10 years of distinguished service.
The statement described the appointment as a significant milestone in the continued advancement of the University’s vision of academic excellence, innovation and strategic partnerships.
Governor Adeleke commended the immense contributions of Apostle Alakija to the growth and transformation of the University, particularly the donation of the multi-billion-naira Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital.
According to the Governor, the impact of the former Chancellor remains a lasting legacy in the history of both the University and Osun State.
As part of activities marking the completion of Apostle Alakija’s tenure, the Osun State Government and management of the University paid a courtesy and appreciation visit to the Alakija family on Friday, May 8, 2026, in recognition of their unwavering support and commitment to the institution over the past decade.
Mrs Samson, a native of Iree in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State, was born on December 5, 1949. She has built BOVAS Oil and Gas Company into one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous petroleum marketing firms.
Under her leadership and that of her husband, the company expanded from a single filling station to more than 200 petroleum service stations across the country, providing employment for over 2,000 Nigerians as of December 31, 2025.
Mrs Samson also holds the Texaco Petroleum franchise and made history as the first Nigerian to win the highly competitive Texaco Latin America and West Africa Award for Best Overall Dealer in 1990, having recorded the highest sales volume across both regions.
A respected figure in the oil and gas sector, she has held several strategic positions, including serving as Matron of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, NNPC/PPMC Satellite Depot, Ejigbo, Lagos State, and Apata Depot, Ibadan, Oyo State. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing Association.
Mrs Samson holds a Professional Diploma in Marketing and attended the Harvard University Business School Leadership Programme for Family Businesses in 2013. She also participated in the Chief Executive Programme at IESE Business School, Barcelona, Spain.
Governor Adeleke described the new Chancellor as a woman of integrity, accountability and patriotism, whose business philosophy reflects honesty, decency and commitment to humanity.
“We recognise and appreciate your distinct efforts to make life easier for consumers of petroleum products. We celebrate you as a symbol of decency, honesty, integrity and humanity in our society,” the Governor said.
The management, staff and students of Osun State University congratulated Mrs Samson on her appointment and expressed confidence that her wealth of experience, leadership capacity and passion for societal development would further strengthen the institution’s drive towards global relevance and sustainable growth.
