The University of Jos (UNIJOS) has appointed Professor Patricia Manko Lar as its 11th substantive Vice-Chancellor, making her the first woman to head the institution since its establishment more than five decades ago.
Her appointment was announced on Thursday, November 12, 2026, by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Grace Folashade Bent, during a special meeting of the university’s 15th Governing Council.
Key Highlights
- Professor Patricia Manko Lar appointed as the 11th substantive Vice-Chancellor of UNIJOS.
- She becomes the first female Vice-Chancellor in the university’s history.
- Lar will succeed Professor Tanko Ishaya, whose tenure ends this month.
- She is a Professor of Medical Microbiology with more than three decades of experience at UNIJOS.
- She has authored over 40 scholarly publications.
- She previously served as Acting Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja.
Professor Patricia Manko Lar to Succeed Tanko Ishaya
Lar will succeed Professor Tanko Ishaya, whose tenure as Vice-Chancellor is expected to end this month.
Presenting her appointment letter, Senator Bent urged the incoming Vice-Chancellor to remain focused and provide effective leadership that would advance the university’s academic and administrative development.
Her appointment represents a historic breakthrough for female leadership at the University of Jos, which has operated for more than 50 years without a woman occupying the position of substantive Vice-Chancellor.
Academic and Research Background
A Professor of Medical Microbiology, Lar joined the University of Jos in 1987 as a Graduate Assistant and gradually rose through the academic ranks before attaining professorial status in 2015.
She obtained her academic degrees from Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Lagos before undertaking postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland in the United States under the NIH-Fogarty Fellowship Programme.
Her academic and research interests include infectious diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS, malaria and antimicrobial resistance.
She has also contributed significantly to academic research, with more than 40 scholarly publications to her credit.
Read also:
- UNIZIK Announces 16,842 Graduands for 2026 Convocation, 194 to Bag First Class Degrees
- BOUESTI Seeks NUC Accreditation for 36 Programmes as Ex-LASU VC Olatunji-Bello Becomes Redeemer’s Pro-Chancellor
- NCDMB, NLNG Invest $9 Million in Research Chairs Across Six Nigerian Universities
Previous Leadership Positions
Beyond her academic contributions, Lar has occupied several administrative and leadership positions within and outside the University of Jos.
Her previous roles include Head of the Department of Microbiology, Director of Linkages and Collaborations, and Secretary-General of the West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA).
Before her appointment as UNIJOS Vice-Chancellor, she served as Acting Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja.
Her wealth of academic, research and administrative experience is expected to shape her leadership of the institution as she prepares to assume office.
Lar’s emergence marks a significant milestone in the history of the University of Jos, as she becomes the first female academic to occupy its highest administrative position.
Her appointment is also expected to inspire greater female participation in university leadership and higher education administration across Nigeria.
