UNIOSUN Chancellor Pledges Infrastructure Drive, Industry Partnership To Lift University’s Ranking

By Boluwatife Adedokun, Osogbo

The new Chancellor of Osun State University, UNIOSUN, Mrs. Victoria Adunola Samson, has pledged to prioritize infrastructure development and stronger industry-academia collaboration to position the university among Nigeria’s top 10 within the next five years.

Mrs. Samson, Group Managing Director of BOVAS Group, stated this on Monday, 6th July, 2026, during her investiture as the Third Substantive Chancellor of the university by Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Nurudeen Jackson Adeleke, at the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Auditorium, Main Campus, Osogbo.

“My primary focus during my tenure as Chancellor will be to join the University to raise, deploy and build infrastructure that helps to support both students and faculty members,” she said.

“As a Chancellor, I would like to ensure the bridge between the town and gown is further strengthened through increased collaboration and cooperation between the university as knowledge producers and trainers and the industry.”

The new Chancellor added that improving the university’s visibility and academic output was critical.

“We must also collaborate to effectively improve the webometric ranking of this University. We must ensure all hands are on deck to bring UNIOSUN to the class of top 10 in Nigeria in the next five years. I strongly believe this is achievable, God blessing us,” she said.

In her address, Mrs. Samson described her appointment as “a clarion call to serve God through his people, and especially the good people of my home State.”

She urged all stakeholders to support the drive to produce graduates who will lead in governance, business, finance, education, manufacturing and entrepreneurship.

“For this journey to be memorable, every stakeholder must do their best to cooperate and collaborate in the overall best interest of our motherland and the generations yet unborn,” she said.

Governor Adeleke, while performing the investiture, described the appointment as part of his administration’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education in the state.

“This is far more than the installation of a Chancellor. It is a celebration of continuity, visionary leadership and our collective resolve to strengthen one of the fastest growing Universities in Nigeria,” he said.

“It is also a reaffirmation of our unwavering belief that education remains the most enduring investment any government can make in the future of its people.”

The Governor expressed confidence that Mrs. Samson’s tenure “will usher in another era of excellence, innovation and institutional advancement.”

He also commended the immediate past Chancellor, Apostle Dr. Folorunso Alakija, for her “uncommon grace, uncommon generosity and uncommon commitment” to the university, citing her donation of a state-of-the-art medical research and training hospital as a lasting legacy.

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Professor Adewale Abiodun Oladipo, said Mrs. Samson’s background in business and administration would be critical to the university’s growth.

“Mrs. Victoria Adunola Samson is an accomplished business executive, an exceptional administrator, a respected industrialist and an inspiring leader whose contributions to corporate Nigeria have earned widespread admiration,” he said.

He noted that the Chancellor “represents integrity, symbolises diligence, and epitomises purposeful leadership,” qualities he said are “indispensable in the leadership of a great University.”

In his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, appreciated Governor Ademola Adeleke for his support.

“I want to specially, and for the umpteenth time, register our honest acknowledgement and appreciation of Your Excellency’s commitment to the progressive advancement of this University,” he said.

He congratulated the new Chancellor, Mrs. Victoria Adunola Samson, for her integrity and industry leadership

He however noted that UNIOSUN’s growth from 649 students and 19 programmes in 2007 to over 42,000 students and 108 programmes today, and disclosed that four IGR-funded projects commissioned by the Governor, the Sports Complex, a 3-in-1 Science Laboratory, and two lecture theatres, were delivered to enhance teaching and learning.

Mrs. Samson succeeds Apostle Alakija and the pioneer Chancellor, the late Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II. The university had earlier conferred on her an honorary Doctor of Business Management degree in 2023.

The event was attended by members of the State Executive Council, Council, Senate, traditional rulers, staff, students, alumni and officials of BOVAS Group.