UNIJOS makes history with first female vice-chancellor, Patricia Lar

The University of Jos (UNIJOS) in Jos, Plateau State, has appointed Professor Patricia Lar as its 11th vice-chancellor. She is the first woman to hold this position since the school started over 50 years ago.

The announcement was made on Thursday by Grace Bent, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council. This took place during a special meeting of the university’s 15th Governing Council.

Professor Lar takes over from Professor Tanko Ishaya, whose tenure ends this month.

While handing over the appointment letter, Ms Bent urged the new vice-chancellor to stay focused and dedicated in leading the university.

Professor Lar is a medical microbiologist. She began her career at the University of Jos as a graduate assistant in 1987. She climbed the academic ladder and became a Professor of Medical Microbiology in 2015.

She earned her degrees from Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Lagos. She also did postdoctoral training in the USA at the University of Maryland under the NIH-Fogarty Fellowship Programme.

Her research work focuses on infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, malaria, and antimicrobial resistance. She has published over 40 scholarly articles.

Professor Lar has held various administrative roles at UNIJOS. These include Head of the Department of Microbiology and Director of Linkages and Collaborations. She also served as Secretary-General of the West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA).

Before this role, she was Acting Vice-Chancellor at Yakubu Gowon University in Abuja.

Her appointment comes at a time when there are ongoing concerns about infrastructure, student welfare, and the management of the academic environment.

Earlier, PREMIUM TIMES reported that seven professors were in the running for the Vice-Chancellor position. The candidates were Professors Ikonne Ogaji, Victor Duga, Sati Fwatshak, Anthony Dakum, Patricia Lar, Bernard Matur, and Simon Yiltok.

The candidates shared their visions for the university during a meeting organized by the university’s Advancement Office and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

At the meeting, Professor Nanven Gambo, a former Vice-Chancellor of Karl Kumm University, challenged the candidates to explain how they would use their authority to improve the university.

The new Vice-Chancellor will also need to address the welfare of students with disabilities.

A recent investigation by PREMIUM TIMES revealed poor sanitation and lack of accessibility at Village Hostel, where students with disabilities live. The report showed that wheelchair users had difficulty accessing bathrooms. It also noted that uneven paths and overgrown bushes made it hard for them to move around the hostel.

After the report was published, Professor Chris Piwuna, the Dean of Student Affairs, admitted that the hostel needed more improvements. He mentioned that the university had done some repairs but acknowledged that much more work was needed.

“Reports like yours keep us on our toes,” he told PREMIUM TIMES.

The university management has not yet given a timeline for fixing the accessibility issues highlighted in the investigation.

Professor Lar’s appointment is a significant step in the university’s leadership. Her administration is expected to tackle these ongoing issues while managing the university’s academic and administrative growth.