Patricia Lar becomes University of Jos' first woman Vice-Chancellor

The University of Jos in Nigeria has appointed Professor Patricia Mamko Lar, a medical microbiologist, as its 11th substantive Vice-Chancellor, making her the first woman to lead the university since it was founded. The Pro-Chancellor and chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Grace Folashade Bent, announced the decision at a special meeting of the university's 15th Governing Council on Thursday, 12 November 2026, and presented Lar with her letter of appointment, according to a statement from the university's deputy registrar for information and public relations, Emmanuel Madugu. Lar succeeds Professor Tanko Ishaya, whose tenure is ending.

A Vice-Chancellor is the chief executive of a university: responsible for its academic direction, finances, staff and students. In its 55 years the University of Jos had ten substantive vice-chancellors before Lar, all of them men. Her appointment ends that run, and it was announced by a governing council that is itself chaired by a woman.

Her route to the top is also worth noting. Lar did not arrive from outside: she built her career inside the same institution, starting at the lowest academic rung as a graduate assistant and moving through teaching, research and administration. She headed her department, ran the office that handles the university's partnerships and collaborations, and then gained experience as acting head of another university in the capital before being chosen for the top job at home. That path shows the posts below the top, such as head of department and director of an office, as the steps from which a vice-chancellor is drawn.

Her field is relevant too. Lar is a professor of microbiology, medical microbiology and medical parasitology. For women in science, in Nigeria and elsewhere, a visible example of a researcher moving from the laboratory to the vice-chancellor's office carries weight.

For readers in India, the lesson is similar: single appointments matter, but so does how many women reach the posts just below the top, such as deans, registrars and department heads, from which future vice-chancellors are chosen.

Peepals calculation: Lar has been associated with the University of Jos for about 39 years, from joining as a graduate assistant in 1987 to her appointment in 2026 (2026 − 1987 = 39). That is about 71% of the university's 55-year history (39 ÷ 55 ≈ 0.71). Our calculation from the reported figures.

Short-term: Lar takes over from Professor Tanko Ishaya as his term ends and will set her administration's early priorities for the university's staff and students.

Long-term: As the first woman to lead the University of Jos, her tenure will be watched as a test case for women's leadership in Nigeria's federal universities, and could make it easier for other councils to look beyond traditional candidates.

Who is affected: Students and staff of the University of Jos; women academics in Nigeria and other countries where few universities have had women leaders; and university councils weighing future appointments.

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