The Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Patricia Manko Lar, has been hailed for restoring peace and fairness at the institution.
This commendation was jointly made by Dr. Godwin Okaneme of the Department of Philosophy; Dr. Iheanyichukwu Hilary Ukpabi, Department of Policy & Strategic Studies, Abuja Leadership Centre; and Comr. Umoru Abdulrasheed Oseni, Department of Education Management, Faculty of Education, University of Abuja.
They expressed appreciation to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for his fatherly role and timely intervention that promptly saved the University from sinking into a crisis of horrendous magnitude.
“The President’s timely intervention was a rare demonstration and show of leadership that came when it mattered most. The appointment of Professor Patricia Manko Lar as Acting Vice Chancellor of our University following the dismissal of the controversially elected Vice Chancellor, Professor Aisha Maikudi, and the sacking of the Governing Council of the University of Abuja on February 6th, 2025, by the Federal Government came as a surprise to many people.
“Prof. Patricia Lar assumed office a few days after her appointment and met an institution whose staff were highly demoralized, dejected, and traumatized owing to the well-known shenanigans of the past administration. The staff were also divided along several lines.”
According to them, any good leader can achieve a lot within a short space of time. They said that despite the crisis-ridden institution she met on assumption of office, Prof. Lar has been able to bring calm to the university.
“In doing this, she has brought to bear her humane and kind disposition to every particular challenge she has encountered in the discharge of her herculean and onerous task of administering this institution.
Through her dexterity and painstaking disposition, she has brought peace and calmness to the University.
“Her ability to calmly garner support of the key stakeholders in the University and unite the entire institution as one entity is an uncommon feat, to say the least. A lot of staff can now come to their offices and work in a serene atmosphere without fear of the unknown. Prior to her assumption of office, this was not so, as many staff were hunted and haunted on many fronts by the past administration.
“We are grateful to the Federal Government for appointing the amiable Prof. Patricia Lar as the Acting Vice Chancellor of our University to steady the otherwise sinking ship of our hallowed institution. Despite all the arguments to the contrary, this University was heading towards implosion prior to the intervention of the Federal Government three months ago.
“We appreciate the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, for giving our indefatigable Acting Vice Chancellor the needed support and encouragement at all times. We offer our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Dr. Olarenwaju Tejuosho, for being a father figure and for providing the necessary critical leadership at all times.”
They therefore appealed to the Federal Government to expedite action on the appointment of a new Governing Council for the University to enable the institution to run effectively and efficiently without encumbrances.
This, they said, will no doubt make the remaining tenure of the Acting Vice Chancellor smooth and result-oriented. We appeal to the Federal Government to appoint seasoned and proven technocrats into the Council so that they can add value to the institution.
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