# UNIJOS Appoints Professor Patricia Lar as First Female Vice-Chancellor Medical microbiologist Patricia Lar breaks a five-decade gender barrier at the University of Jos. - **Source:** [Premium Times Nigeria](https://www.premiumtimesng.com) - **Published:** 2026-11-12 - **Topic:** [careers](https://brifing.si/c/careers) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/8ae343cd-89ff-4fc0-8276-49f4c92b25fc ## Historic Leadership Milestone The University of Jos has officially appointed Professor Patricia Lar as its 11th substantive vice-chancellor. This landmark decision marks the first time a woman has held the institution's top leadership position since its founding over fifty years ago. She succeeds Professor Tanko Ishaya, whose tenure concludes at the end of this month. ## Academic and Research Background Professor Lar is a distinguished medical microbiologist who began her career at the university as a graduate assistant in 1987. She earned her professorship in 2015 after extensive academic work. Her research portfolio includes over 40 scholarly publications focusing on infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria, and the critical challenge of antimicrobial resistance. ## Extensive Administrative Experience Beyond her research, Lar brings significant administrative expertise to her new role. She previously served as the Head of the Department of Microbiology and Director of Linkages and Collaborations at the University of Jos. Furthermore, she held the position of Acting Vice-Chancellor at Yakubu Gowon University and served as Secretary-General of WARIMA. ## Rigorous Selection Process The appointment followed a competitive selection process involving seven different professorial candidates. Stakeholders, including the Academic Staff Union of Universities, participated in sessions where candidates presented their strategic visions. The 15th Governing Council, led by Pro-Chancellor Grace Bent, finalized the decision after reviewing the candidates' qualifications and their plans for institutional advancement. ## Inherited Institutional Challenges Professor Lar assumes leadership during a period of complex operational difficulties for the university. Her administration must navigate ongoing concerns regarding campus infrastructure, student welfare, and the overall management of the academic environment. Addressing these systemic issues will be a primary focus as she transitions into the role of vice-chancellor this month. ## Focus on Student Accessibility A critical area requiring immediate attention is the welfare of students with disabilities. Recent investigations highlighted severe accessibility barriers at the Village Hostel, including poor sanitation and difficult pathways for wheelchair users. While the university administration has acknowledged these shortcomings, a clear timeline for comprehensive infrastructure improvements remains currently unspecified by management. ## Global Academic Training Professor Lar's academic foundation spans several prestigious institutions, including Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Lagos. Her international experience is bolstered by postdoctoral training completed under the NIH-Fogarty Fellowship Programme at the University of Maryland. This global perspective is expected to influence her approach to managing the university's future research and international collaborations. ## Future Administrative Outlook As the first female leader, Professor Lar faces the dual challenge of modernizing university governance while addressing long-standing infrastructure deficits. Her success will likely be measured by her ability to balance academic excellence with practical campus reforms. Stakeholders are now looking toward her inaugural policy announcements to gauge the direction of her tenure. ## Sources covering this story - https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/north-central/924674-unijos-appoints-first-female-vice-chancellor-patricia-lar.html — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._