Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has officially named Mrs. Victoria Adunola Samson, better recognized as BOVAS, to the position of Chancellor at Osun State University (UNIOSUN). The announcement came through a statement released on Sunday, May 10, 2026, by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.
Mrs. Samson assumes the role as the third chancellor of the institution, succeeding Folorunso Alakija, whose term concluded on March 18, 2026, after a decade of service. Alakija’s tenure was marked by significant contributions, including the donation of the Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital, a multi-billion-naira project that greatly enhanced the university’s infrastructure.
Before her appointment, the Osun State Government paid a courtesy visit to Alakija on May 8, 2026, acknowledging her and her family’s efforts in advancing the university. Governor Adeleke praised her leadership, describing it as a period of notable achievements and a lasting legacy.
Mrs. Samson, widely referred to as Mama BOVAS, is the founder of BOVAS Oil and Gas, a prominent indigenous company in the petroleum sector. Hailing from Iree in Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State, she was born on December 5, 1949. Under her direction and that of her husband, the enterprise grew from a single service station to more than 200 outlets nationwide, employing over 2,000 people as of December 31, 2025.
She also holds the Texaco Petroleum franchise and made history in 1990 by becoming the first Nigerian to win the Texaco Latin America and West Africa Award for Best Overall Dealer. During that period, she achieved the highest sales performance across both West Africa and Latin America.
Her professional background includes serving as Matron for the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria at the NNPC/PPMC Satellite Depot in Ejigbo, Lagos, and the Apata Depot in Ibadan. She has also been a member of the Board of Trustees for the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing Association. Mrs. Samson holds a Professional Diploma in Marketing and has attended leadership programs at Harvard Business School and IESE Business School in Barcelona.
Governor Adeleke, in his statement, expressed appreciation for her efforts in making petroleum products more accessible to consumers. He celebrated her as a symbol of decency, honesty, integrity, and humanity. The governor congratulated her on behalf of the state’s government and people, urging her to apply her wealth of experience and leadership skills to her new role at UNIOSUN.