RismadarVoice Reporters
November 12, 2026
The Governing Council of the University of Jos (UNIJOS) has reportedly appointed Professor Patricia Mamko Lar as the institution’s 11th substantive Vice-Chancellor, making her the first woman selected to occupy the position since the university’s establishment.
The appointment was announced on Thursday, November 12, during a special meeting of the Governing Council chaired by the Pro-Chancellor, Senator Grace Folashade Bent.
According to a statement attributed to the university’s Deputy Registrar for Information and Public Relations, Emmanuel Madugu, the decision followed the institution’s selection process for a successor to the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya.
Presenting the appointment letter to Lar, Bent urged her to remain focused on the responsibilities associated with leading the institution.
The development follows a competitive selection process involving professors who presented their visions for the university’s future to members of the academic community.
Earlier in the week, seven candidates, including Lar, participated in a stakeholders’ interaction organised by the university’s Advancement Office in collaboration with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The candidates discussed institutional governance, academic development, research, funding, staff welfare and improvements to the learning environment.
Lar’s emergence represents a significant milestone for female representation in the leadership of the university.
She previously served as Acting Vice-Chancellor of Yakubu Gowon University, formerly the University of Abuja, where she held office for six months in 2025.
Her previous administrative experience is expected to be relevant as the University of Jos prepares for a leadership transition.
The outgoing Vice-Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya, assumed office on December 1, 2021, for a five-year tenure scheduled to conclude on November 30, 2026.
The university’s next administration will inherit responsibilities involving academic standards, research development, institutional funding and student welfare.
Issues surrounding campus infrastructure and accessibility for students with disabilities have also featured prominently in recent discussions about the institution’s leadership.
Lar’s appointment, if formally confirmed through the university’s official channels, would make her the first female substantive Vice-Chancellor in UNIJOS history.
The effective date of her assumption of office and any additional details of the appointment were not specified in the statement available at the time of this report.
