Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved the appointment of Mrs Victoria Adunola Samson, the Group Managing Director of BOVAS and Company Limited, as the new Chancellor of Osun State University.
The appointment was officially announced in a statement released on Sunday by the spokesperson to the Osun State Government, Mallam Olawale Rasheed. According to the statement, Mrs Samson will take over from renowned businesswoman and philanthropist Folorunso Alakija, whose tenure as Chancellor came to an end on March 18, 2026, after serving the institution for a decade.
The Osun State Government noted that Mrs Samson’s appointment followed careful consideration of her contributions to business development, entrepreneurship, leadership, and national economic growth. The government described her as a respected corporate leader whose achievements in the oil and gas sector have distinguished her as one of Nigeria’s most successful female entrepreneurs.
Governor Adeleke, while commenting on the appointment, praised the outgoing Chancellor, Mrs Alakija, for what he described as her outstanding service and enduring contributions to the growth of the university during her time in office. He recalled that the state government recently paid a courtesy and appreciation visit to Alakija in recognition of her commitment to educational development and philanthropy.
The governor particularly commended her for donating the multi-billion-naira Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital to the university, describing the gesture as a major milestone in the institution’s development. According to him, the facility remains one of the most significant educational and healthcare interventions associated with the university.
Adeleke stated that the appointment of Mrs Samson reflects the administration’s desire to sustain excellence and visionary leadership within the university system. He described the BOVAS Group boss as a woman of integrity, accountability, patriotism, and exceptional business acumen.
“We recognize with appreciation your distinct effort to make life easy for consumers of petroleum products across Nigeria,” the governor said in the statement.
“We celebrate you and use your life as a symbol of decency, honesty, integrity, discipline, and humanity in our society.”
The governor added that the government and people of Osun State were delighted to welcome her as the third Chancellor of the university.
“The Governor of Osun State congratulates you on behalf of the people and government of the state on your appointment as the third Chancellor of Osun State University, Osogbo,” the statement added.
Mrs Samson, an indigene of Iree in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State, was born on December 5, 1949. She is widely known as one of the pioneers of indigenous participation in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
Under her leadership, alongside her husband, BOVAS Oil and Gas reportedly grew from a single filling station into one of Nigeria’s largest indigenous petroleum marketing companies, with over 200 outlets spread across different parts of the country.
The company has also emerged as a major employer of labour, reportedly providing jobs for more than 2,000 Nigerians as of December 2025. Industry observers have often cited the company’s expansion as a remarkable example of indigenous business success in Nigeria’s competitive oil and gas sector.
The statement also highlighted some of Mrs Samson’s achievements and recognitions in the petroleum industry. Notably, she became the first Nigerian to win the Texaco Latin America and West Africa Award for Best Overall Dealer in 1990, a feat that elevated her profile within the international energy business community.
Beyond her corporate achievements, Mrs Samson has played active roles in industry associations and professional organisations. She has served as Matron of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) at both the NNPC/PPMC Satellite Depot in Ejigbo, Lagos, and the Apata Depot in Ibadan, Oyo State.
She is equally a member of the Board of Trustees of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing Association (DAPPMA), where she has contributed to policy discussions and industry reforms within Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
The Osun State Government further noted that Mrs Samson possesses strong academic and professional credentials. She holds a Professional Diploma in Marketing and has attended executive leadership and management programmes at globally respected institutions, including Harvard Business School and IESE Business School.
Observers believe her appointment could further strengthen the university’s relationship with the private sector and create opportunities for investment, innovation, research partnerships, and institutional development.
Founded in 2006, Osun State University has continued to expand its academic profile and infrastructure over the years, emerging as one of Nigeria’s leading state-owned universities.
Stakeholders within the institution have also expressed optimism that Mrs Samson’s wealth of experience in administration, business leadership, and corporate management would positively impact the university’s future growth and strategic direction.
Her emergence as Chancellor has already generated commendation from various groups within and outside Osun State, with many describing the appointment as well deserved and reflective of her long-standing contributions to national development and entrepreneurship.
