The University of Jos (UNIJOS) has appointed Professor Patricia Mamko Lar as its 11th substantive Vice-Chancellor, making her the first woman to lead the Plateau State institution in more than five decades of existence.
Her appointment was announced on Thursday by the university’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Grace Folashade Bent, at a special meeting of the 15th Governing Council in Jos, Channels Television and TheGuild reported. Lar succeeds Professor Tanko Ishaya, whose tenure ends this month.
A historic first for UNIJOS
The university described Lar in its announcement as its 11th substantive and first female vice-chancellor, according to Blueprint and THEWILL. Since the institution became a full university in 1975, all ten substantive vice-chancellors before her — from the pioneer, Professor Gilbert Onuaguluchi, to Ishaya — have been men.
The decision was made public in a statement by the Deputy Registrar for Information and Public Relations, Emmanuel Madugu, on behalf of the Registrar and Secretary to Council, TheGuild reported. After announcing the appointment, Senator Bent presented Lar with her letter of appointment and urged her to stay focused on the responsibilities of the office and show full commitment as the university’s chief executive.
Who is Professor Patricia Lar?
Lar is a medical microbiologist and a long-serving member of the UNIJOS community. According to Premium Times, she joined the university as a graduate assistant in 1987 and rose through the ranks, becoming a Professor of Medical Microbiology in 2015, Blueprint reported.
Over the years she has held several administrative roles at the university, including Head of the Department of Microbiology and Director of Linkages and Collaborations. Before this appointment, she was serving as Acting Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja — the institution formerly known as the University of Abuja — giving her recent experience of running a federal university.
How she emerged
The selection followed a competitive process. Premium Times had earlier reported that seven professors were in the race for the job: Ikonne Ogaji, Victor Duga, Sati Fwatshak, Anthony Dakum, Patricia Lar, Bernard Matur and Simon Yiltok. The Governing Council’s choice was formalised at Thursday’s special meeting.
As vice-chancellor, Lar will be responsible for the overall academic, administrative and financial leadership of the university, including teaching and research, THEWILL noted. Under Nigerian law, vice-chancellors of federal universities serve a single five-year term.
About the University of Jos
UNIJOS began in November 1971 as a satellite campus of the University of Ibadan and was established as an independent university by the federal military government in 1975. It has since grown into one of the largest universities in Nigeria’s North Central region, with faculties ranging from medicine and pharmacy to law, engineering and the arts.
What happens next
Lar is expected to take over from Ishaya when his tenure ends this month. She inherits a large institution with familiar challenges facing Nigerian public universities, including funding pressures and infrastructure needs; Premium Times noted that concerns over the welfare of students with disabilities are also among the issues awaiting the new administration.
Sources: Channels Television, Premium Times, Blueprint, THEWILL, TheGuild.
