The University of Jos (UNIJOS), Plateau State, has appointed Professor Patricia Manko Lar as its 11th substantive Vice-Chancellor, making her the first woman to head the institution since its establishment.
Her appointment was announced on Thursday, November 12, 2026, by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the university’s 15th Governing Council, Senator Grace Folashade Bent, during a special meeting of the council.
Lar will succeed the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya, whose five-year tenure is scheduled to end on November 30, 2026. She is expected to formally assume office on December 1.
The university’s Deputy Registrar for Information and Public Relations, Emmanuel Madugu, confirmed the appointment, adding that the governing council ratified the decision at the special meeting, where her letter of appointment was presented.
While congratulating the Vice-Chancellor-designate, Bent urged her to remain focused and committed to the responsibilities of the office.
Lar’s emergence marks a historic development in the university’s administration, as she becomes the first female substantive Vice-Chancellor in the institution’s history. She is also the 11th person appointed to occupy the position.
An academic in microbiology, medical microbiology and medical parasitology, Lar has built her career in university teaching, research and administration. She previously served as Acting Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, formerly known as the University of Abuja.
Her academic journey began at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where she obtained a bachelor’s degree in microbiology in 1986. She proceeded to the University of Lagos College of Medicine, earning a master’s degree in 1989 and a doctorate in 1998.
Following her academic training, Lar joined the University of Jos as a graduate assistant in 1987 and progressed through the university’s academic ranks. She became an associate professor in 2012 and attained the rank of professor in 2015.
Her specialisations in medical microbiology and medical parasitology place her within the health sciences, with academic interests relevant to the study of microorganisms, infectious diseases and their effects on human health.
Her appointment comes as the university prepares for a change in leadership following Ishaya’s departure at the end of November. The incoming administration will take responsibility for steering the institution’s academic and administrative affairs from December 1.
The appointment also adds a new chapter to the university’s leadership history, with Lar set to become the first woman to occupy its highest executive office.
