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