Governor Adeleke Appoints BOVAS Founder As New UNIOSUN Chancellor

Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has appointed the founder of BOVAS Oil and Gas Company, Mrs Victoria Samson, popularly known as ‘BOVAS’ as the new Chancellor of Osun State University.

The appointment was announced on Sunday following the expiration of the tenure of the outgoing Chancellor, Folorunso Alakija, who served the institution from 2016 to 2026.

In a statement issued by the spokesperson to the governor, Olawale Rasheed, the state government described the appointment as the beginning of a new leadership era for the university.

Adeleke commended Alakija for her decade-long service to the institution and her contributions to the development of education and healthcare infrastructure in the state.

“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 express gratitude to the Alakija family for the excellent support given to the University and Osun State,” the statement read.

The governor noted that one of Alakija’s major legacies at the university was the donation of the Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital.

“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,” Adeleke said.

Speaking on Mrs Samson’s appointment, Adeleke praised her achievements in the downstream petroleum sector, describing her as a woman of integrity and service.

“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,” the governor stated.

Samson, an indigene of Iree in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State, is regarded as one of Nigeria’s leading female entrepreneurs in the oil and gas industry.

Under her leadership, BOVAS Oil and Gas Company has expanded from a single filling station to a nationwide network of more than 200 service stations, employing over 2,000 Nigerians as of December 2025.

She also holds the Texaco Petroleum franchise and became the first Nigerian to win the Texaco Latin America and West Africa Award for Best Overall Dealer in 1990.

The new Chancellor has also served as Matron of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria across key depots and is a Board of Trustees member of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing Association.

Her academic and executive training includes a Professional Diploma in Marketing, participation in a leadership programme at Harvard Business School in 2013, and executive education at IESE Business School.

Congratulating Samson on her appointment, Adeleke said: “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.”

The appointment is expected to further strengthen the leadership structure of the university as it continues its academic and infrastructural expansion.