Life story of Patricia Manko Lar, UNIJOS first female VC

On Thursday, November 12, 2026, history was made at the University of Jos (UNIJOS) following the pronouncement of Professor Patricia Manko Lar as the 11th substantive Vice-Chancellor of the institution by its Governing Council.

Established as an independent university on September 23, 1975, it is the first time a woman will be leading the over 50-year-old institution.

Here are the academic and professional journeys of Patricia Manko Lar up to her emergence as the first female VC of UNIJOS.

Birthplace

Patricia Lar was born on January 1, 1964, to the Manko family in Langtang, Langtang Local Government Area of Plateau State, Northern Nigeria.

Education

She began her elementary education at St. Theresa Girls School, Jos, before being transferred to LEA Primary School, Riyom, where she obtained her First School Leaving Certificate in 1976.

Patricia proceeded to Girls’ High School, Gindiri, Plateau State, for her secondary school education and obtained her GCE in 1981. She began her tertiary education at Ahmadu Bello University’s School of Basic Studies, where she obtained IJMB in 1983.

After completing her IJMB, she immediately enrolled for a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in the Department of Microbiology at ABU, graduating with a Second Class Lower Division in 1986. She served as a youth corps member between 1986 and 1987 in the old Gongola State. Upon returning from NYSC, she enrolled for a Master of Science (MSc) at the College of Medicine of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), obtaining an MSc in Medical Microbiology in 1989. She returned to UNILAG to obtain a PhD in Medical Parasitology in 1998.

She undertook postdoctoral research on an NIH-Fogarty Fellowship at the Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland, Baltimore, United States, in 2005.

Patricia Manko Lar also obtained several professional certificates in microbiology-related fields, including a Certificate in Molecular Pathology Practicum (2003), a Certificate in the PEPFAR Laboratory Training Centre Development Phase I Laboratory Training Program (2005), and a Certificate in HIV Sequence Analysis and Drug Resistance Testing, among others.

Work experience

Patricia Manko Lar began her teaching career as a Graduate Assistant in the Department of Microbiology at UNIJOS, where she was appointed Professor of Medical Microbiology on October 1, 2015. Before that, she was a Senior Lecturer in the same department between 2008 and 2012 and was promoted to Reader (Associate Professor) in 2012.

She has also served as a visiting lecturer at Plateau State University, Bokkos, and as an external examiner for postgraduate and undergraduate programmes at several Nigerian universities, including Ahmadu Bello University, the University of Abuja and Federal University Lafia.

In addition to supervising undergraduate projects, Lar has supervised postgraduate research at master’s and doctoral levels in areas such as hepatitis B, HIV, antimicrobial resistance, bacterial infections and molecular epidemiology.

Research and publications

Lar’s research interests include the surveillance and control of infectious diseases, particularly HIV/AIDS, malaria and helminth infections. Other areas of interest include the genomic epidemiology of viral infections, phytomedicine and the monitoring of antimicrobial drug resistance.

Her research has examined the prevalence and molecular characteristics of infectious disease pathogens, HIV-related co-infections, drug-resistant microorganisms and the antimicrobial properties of selected plant products.

Among her published research works is a 2007 study on HIV-1 subtypes and drug-resistant patterns among drug-naive infected persons in Plateau State, Nigeria. She also co-authored studies on the prevalence of hepatitis C among HIV-positive pregnant women, the distribution of Candida species among HIV-infected persons receiving antiretroviral therapy, and the molecular detection of Lassa fever virus among patients attending tertiary hospitals in Jos.

In 2016, she co-authored research examining reported cases of Lassa fever in Plateau State and the need for a strategic action plan. Her subsequent publications also addressed the molecular characterisation of infectious disease pathogens and the relationship between placental malaria and low birth weight among HIV-infected pregnant women.

Her scholarly contributions have appeared in journals including the African Journal of Clinical and Experimental Microbiology, Journal of Medicine and Medical Science, Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, Pan African Medical Journal and International Journal of Tropical Disease and Health.

Lar has also participated in research initiatives supported by national and international funding organisations. These include a Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) research grant on the impact of cotrimoxazole prophylaxis on malaria parasitaemia and clinical consequences among HIV-infected pregnant women in Jos, Plateau State.

University administration and leadership

Alongside her academic and research activities, Lar has held several administrative positions at the University of Jos.

She served as Head of the Department of Microbiology, including an earlier tenure between 2008 and 2010 and another from 2012 to 2017. She also served as Acting Director of Linkages between 2014 and 2017 and was a member of the university’s Senate and the Board of the Office of Research.

Between 2008 and 2013, she served as Project Director of the Jos-Carnegie Partnership Project, an institutional capacity-development initiative. She also participated in coordinating grant applications and securing funding for research management and institutional development.

Her professional leadership engagements extended beyond the University of Jos. She served as Secretary-General of the West African Research and Innovation Management Association (WARIMA) and has been associated with professional organisations including the Nigerian Society for Microbiology, Nigerian Association of Medical Scientists, American Society for Microbiology, and Parasitology and Public Health Society of Nigeria.

In February 2025, President Bola Tinubu appointed Lar as Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, now known as Yakubu Gowon University, for a six-month tenure. She succeeded Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi in the acting position. Her tenure ended in August 2025, when Professor Mathew Adamu was appointed to succeed her.

On November 12, 2026, the Governing Council of the University of Jos appointed Lar as the institution’s 11th substantive Vice-Chancellor. The announcement was made by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Senator Grace Folashade Bent, during a special meeting of the university’s 15th Governing Council.

Her appointment makes her the first woman to occupy the substantive Vice-Chancellor position at the University of Jos. She is scheduled to succeed Professor Tanko Ishaya, whose tenure ends on November 30, 2026, and assume office on December 1, 2026.

Awards and recognition

Lar has received several academic and professional recognitions during her career. In 2011, she became a Fellow of the International Women’s Forum Leadership Foundation, following participation in its leadership development programme.

She was also a Fellow of the NIH-Fogarty AIDS International Research and Training Programme between 2002 and 2005, through which she undertook research into the molecular characterisation of HIV-1 isolates in Jos.

In 2015, the Centre for Gender and Women’s Studies at the University of Jos presented her with a Women Achievers Award in recognition of her service and contributions.

Other recognitions include an Award of Excellence from the graduating class of 2012/2013 in recognition of her performance as Head of Department, a Most Instructive Teacher award from the 2008/2009 graduating class of Microbiology students, and an ICT Icon award from the department’s 2006/2007 graduating class.

Community service

Beyond her university appointments, Lar has participated in academic governance and public service. She served as a member of the Governing Council of Plateau State University, Bokkos, between 2012 and 2015, and Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi, between 2009 and 2011.

She has also served on committees and institutional bodies at the University of Jos, including the university’s Search Committee for a new Vice-Chancellor in January 2016.

Her other engagements include participation in the Project Management Committee of the Africa Centre of Excellence in Phytomedicine Research and Development. Patricia Manko Lar will assume office as the 11th Vice-Chancellor of UNIJOS on December 1, 2026.