Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has appointed Mrs Victoria Samson, founder of BOVAS Oil and Gas Company and one of Nigeria's most prominent female entrepreneurs in the downstream petroleum sector, as the new Chancellor of Osun State University, Osogbo.

The appointment, announced on May 10, 2026, through a statement signed by state government spokesperson Olawale Rasheed and posted on the state's official X handle, follows the conclusion of a decade long tenure by the outgoing Chancellor, Apostle Folorunso Alakija, who served from 2016 to 2026.

Adeleke acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing Chancellor, whose tenure formally ended on March 18, 2026. The state government paid a celebratory visit to the Alakija family on May 8, 2026, to express gratitude for their support of the University and the state.

"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," the governor stated.

Turning to the new appointment, Adeleke praised Mrs Samson's business record and personal values. "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," he noted.

Born on December 5, 1949, Mrs Samson is an Iree indigene from Boripe Local Government Area of Osun State. Under her leadership, BOVAS Oil and Gas Company grew from a single filling station into a nationwide network of 200 service stations, employing 2,000 Nigerians as of December 2025.

She holds the Texaco Petroleum franchise and made history in 1990 as the first Nigerian to win the Texaco Latin America and West Africa Award for Best Overall Dealer. Her academic credentials include a Professional Diploma in Marketing, a leadership programme at Harvard Business School in 2013, and executive education at IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.

She has also served as Matron of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria across key depots. She sits on the Board of Trustees of the Depot and Petroleum Products Marketing Association.

Congratulating her on the appointment, Adeleke remarked: "Your record of integrity and service is a source of pride to our state."