The University of Jos (UNIJOS), Jos, Plateau State, has appointed Professor Patricia Lar as its 11th substantive vice-chancellor, making her the first
The University of Jos (UNIJOS), Jos, Plateau State, has appointed Professor Patricia Lar as its 11th substantive vice-chancellor, making her the first woman to be appointed to the position since the institution was established more than five decades ago.
The appointment was announced on Thursday by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Grace Bent, during a special meeting of the university’s 15th Governing Council.
She succeeds Professor Tanko Ishaya, whose tenure ends this month.
While presenting the appointment letter, Bent urged the incoming vice-chancellor to remain focused and committed to leading the institution.
Professor Lar is a medical microbiologist who joined the University of Jos as a graduate assistant in 1987. She rose through the academic ranks and was appointed Professor of Medical Microbiology in 2015.
She obtained her degrees from Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Lagos. She completed postdoctoral training at the University of Maryland, USA, under the NIH-Fogarty Fellowship Programme.
Her research focuses on infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, malaria and antimicrobial resistance. She has published more than 40 scholarly works.
Professor Lar has held several administrative positions at the University of Jos, including 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 her appointment, she served as Acting Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja.
