The University of Jos (UNIJOS) has appointed Professor Patricia Manko Lar as its 11th substantive Vice-Chancellor, marking a significant milestone as she becomes the first woman to hold this position in the institution’s over fifty-year history. This announcement was made during a special meeting of the university’s 15th Governing Council, led by Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Senator Grace Folashade Bent.
Lar’s appointment follows the conclusion of Professor Tanko Ishaya’s tenure. Senator Bent emphasized the importance of focused leadership and urged the incoming vice-chancellor to provide strong guidance to the institution.
A distinguished Medical Microbiologist, Lar joined the University of Jos in 1987 as a Graduate Assistant and progressed to the rank of Professor of Medical Microbiology by 2015. She holds degrees from Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Lagos, and has completed postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland under the NIH-Fogarty Fellowship Programme.
Lar is recognized for her notable research contributions in infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and antimicrobial resistance, with over 40 scholarly publications to her name. Her leadership experience includes serving as the Head of the Department of Microbiology, Director of Linkages and Collaborations, and Secretary-General of the West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA). Previously, she held the position of Acting Vice-Chancellor at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja.
