Education
UNIOSUN Appoints Oil Magnate Victoria Samson as Chancellor
UNIOSUN Appoints Oil Magnate Victoria Samson as Chancellor
Ademola Adeleke has approved the appointment of renowned businesswoman and founder of BOVAS Group, Victoria Adunola Samson, as the new Chancellor of Osun State University (UNIOSUN).
The appointment was confirmed in a statement issued by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, who described the development as a major milestone in the institution’s pursuit of academic excellence, innovation, and stronger strategic partnerships.
Mrs Samson, popularly known as “Mama BOVAS,” becomes the third Chancellor of UNIOSUN, succeeding renowned philanthropist and business magnate Folorunso Alakija, whose tenure officially ended on March 18, 2026, after a decade of service to the institution.
Governor Adeleke commended Apostle Alakija for her immense contributions 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 former Chancellor’s contributions remain a lasting legacy in the history of both the university and Osun State.
As part of activities marking the completion of Alakija’s tenure, officials of the Osun State Government and the university management paid a courtesy and appreciation visit to the Alakija family on May 8, 2026, in recognition of their support for the institution over the past 10 years.
The appointment of Mrs Samson is widely seen as another strategic move by the Adeleke administration to strengthen private sector collaboration and institutional development within Osun State’s education sector.
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A native of Iree in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State, Victoria Samson was born on December 5, 1949, and is regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential female entrepreneurs in the oil and gas industry.
Under her leadership alongside her husband, BOVAS Oil and Gas Company grew from a single filling station into one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous petroleum marketing companies, with over 200 retail outlets nationwide as of December 2025.
The company currently provides employment opportunities for more than 2,000 Nigerians across different sectors of its operations.
Mrs Samson also made history in 1990 as the first Nigerian to win the prestigious Texaco Latin America and West Africa Award for Best Overall Dealer after recording the highest sales volume across both regions.
Beyond her achievements in business, the new UNIOSUN Chancellor has held several influential positions within Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
She served as Matron of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), NNPC/PPMC Satellite Depot in Ejigbo, Lagos, and Apata Depot in Ibadan, Oyo State.
She is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing Association.
Her academic and professional credentials include a Professional Diploma in Marketing as well as executive training at internationally recognised institutions.
Mrs Samson attended the Harvard University Business School Leadership Programme for Family Businesses in 2013 and later participated in the Chief Executive Programme at IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.
Governor Adeleke described the new Chancellor as a woman of integrity, patriotism, and accountability 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 stated.
Stakeholders within the education and business communities have continued to applaud the appointment, describing it as a recognition of women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, and contributions to national development.
The management, staff, and students of UNIOSUN also congratulated Mrs Samson on her appointment, expressing confidence that her leadership experience, business expertise, and passion for societal development would further strengthen the university’s quest for global relevance and sustainable growth.
Observers believe her emergence as Chancellor could help deepen industry-academic collaboration, attract investment opportunities, and expand entrepreneurship initiatives within the university system.
UNIOSUN Appoints Oil Magnate Victoria Samson as Chancellor
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Education
2026 BECE Results Out as NECO Announces Re-sit Dates
2026 BECE Results Out as NECO Announces Re-sit Dates
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially released the results of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), with a total of 186,291 candidates participating in the examination conducted across Nigeria and five foreign countries.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Thursday by NECO’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, following the successful conclusion of the 2026 BECE Award Committee Meeting held at the Council’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State.
According to NECO, candidates sat for examinations in 12 subjects during the exercise, which took place between April 20 and April 30, 2026.
The examination body stated that the release of the 2026 BECE results followed the approval of the Award Committee after reviewing reports on the conduct of the examination, the marking process, and the compilation of candidates’ scores.
The Award Committee meeting was chaired by Dr Folake Olatunji-David, Director of Basic Education at the Federal Ministry of Education, who represented the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa.
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Speaking at the meeting, Olatunji-David expressed satisfaction with the procedures leading to the successful conduct of the examination and the release of the results, commending NECO for maintaining standards in the administration of the assessment.
The meeting was attended by NECO management officials, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, and selected secondary school principals from across the country.
The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) serves as the final assessment for students completing Junior Secondary School education and is a key requirement for placement into Senior Secondary School One (SSS1).
Meanwhile, the Award Committee approved July 22 and July 23, 2026, for the conduct of the BECE Re-sit Examination in Mathematics and English Studies.
NECO explained that the re-sit examination is specifically designed for candidates with conditional deficiencies in either Mathematics, English Studies, or both subjects.
According to the Council, the initiative provides affected candidates with an opportunity to correct deficiencies and obtain the certification required for progression into senior secondary school without repeating an academic year.
The examination body noted that the re-sit policy remains part of its efforts to support students facing challenges in core subjects while ensuring they continue their educational journey without unnecessary setbacks.
Education stakeholders have welcomed the move, describing it as a practical intervention that offers deserving students a second chance to meet admission requirements into SSS1.
NECO urged candidates, parents, and school administrators to access the results through approved channels and ensure all result details are properly verified.
The Council also reaffirmed its commitment to conducting credible and transparent examinations through improved assessment processes, enhanced monitoring systems, and strict compliance with examination regulations.
With the release of the NECO BECE 2026 results, thousands of students across Nigeria can now proceed with preparations for their transition into senior secondary education, while eligible candidates prepare for the upcoming re-sit examination.
2026 BECE Results Out as NECO Announces Re-sit Dates
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Education
Teachers’ Union Demands Safe Rescue of Victims Before Schools Reopen in Oyo
Teachers’ Union Demands Safe Rescue of Victims Before Schools Reopen in Oyo
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Oyo State has declared that public schools across the state will remain closed until the government puts in place strong and verifiable security measures to protect both teachers and students following the recent mass abduction in Oriire Local Government Area.
The union said the decision followed the May 15 attack in which armed men invaded schools in parts of Oriire, abducting more than 40 students and teachers and killing at least two educators, an incident that has deepened fear and disrupted academic activities across the state.
The Oyo State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (Nigeria Union of Teachers) said the worsening insecurity forced its members to withdraw from classrooms indefinitely, warning that schools have become unsafe for both learners and educators. According to the union, the strike was not declared immediately after the attack. It said it initially engaged relevant authorities in hopes of a swift response but later concluded that the security situation had not improved enough to guarantee a safe return to classrooms.
Speaking in Ibadan, NUT Secretary, Mr. Olukayode Salami, said the reopening of schools now depends on two major conditions: the safe rescue of all abducted victims and the implementation of effective preventive security measures to stop future attacks. He said teachers would not return to classrooms until there is clear evidence of improved protection in vulnerable communities, especially in rural areas that have become frequent targets of attacks. Salami added that the emotional and psychological impact of the abduction has made it difficult for teachers to continue normal academic activities, noting that fear and panic have taken over many school environments.
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The union urged the government to urgently strengthen school security, especially in high-risk communities, stressing that educational institutions must no longer be treated as soft targets. It also called for increased security patrols, intelligence gathering, and joint operations involving conventional security agencies and local security groups to prevent further attacks. Salami stressed that the responsibility of protecting lives and property rests with the government, insisting that visible security presence is necessary to restore confidence among teachers, students, and parents.
The union disclosed that it has held several meetings with government officials and security stakeholders, leading to agreed action plans aimed at improving school safety across the state. However, it said it is still awaiting full implementation of these measures, particularly in vulnerable local government areas close to forested regions where recent attacks occurred.
As a result of the ongoing strike and security concerns, many schools in affected areas remain shut indefinitely, with no official timeline yet for reopening. Stakeholders have warned that academic activities may not resume fully until the government demonstrates clear commitment to securing schools and restoring public confidence. The union maintained that while schools cannot remain closed forever, safety must come before academic calendars.
Teachers’ Union Demands Safe Rescue of Victims Before Schools Reopen in Oyo
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Education
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