The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the appointment of businesswoman Victoria Adunola Samson as the new Chancellor of Osun State University.
The announcement was made on Sunday in a statement issued by the spokesperson to the Osun State Government, Olawale Rasheed.
Samson, who is the Group Managing Director of BOVAS and Company Limited, will succeed Nigerian billionaire and philanthropist Folorunso Alakija, whose tenure as Chancellor ended on March 18, 2026, after serving the university for 10 years.
According to the statement, the Osun State government recently visited Alakija to appreciate her contributions to the growth of the university and the development of the state during her time in office.
Governor Adeleke praised the former chancellor for what he described as a lasting legacy, particularly her donation of the multi-billion-naira Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital to the university.
The governor also commended Samson, describing her as a respected entrepreneur known for integrity, accountability and service to society, “We recognize and appreciate your efforts in making petroleum products more accessible to consumers. We celebrate you as a symbol of decency, honesty, integrity and humanity in our society,” Adeleke said.
He added that the government and people of Osun State congratulate her on becoming the third Chancellor of Osun State University in Osogbo.
Samson, an indigene of Iree in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State, was born on December 5, 1949. She founded BOVAS Oil and Gas and has led the company alongside her husband for several decades.
Under her leadership, BOVAS grew from a single petrol station into a major petroleum marketing company with more than 200 outlets across Nigeria, employing over 2,000 Nigerians as of December 2025.
The statement also highlighted her achievements in the oil and gas industry. In 1990, she became the first Nigerian to receive the Texaco Latin America and West Africa Award for Best Overall Dealer.
Samson has also held several leadership roles in the sector. She served as Matron of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) at the NNPC/PPMC Satellite Depot in Ejigbo, Lagos, and at the Apata Depot in Ibadan, Oyo State.
She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing Association (DAPPMA).
According to the statement, Samson holds a Professional Diploma in Marketing and has attended executive leadership programmes at Harvard Business School in the United States and IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.