Professor Patricia Lar
By Raymond Gukas, Jos
The lone female aspirant for the University of Jos Vice Chancellor position, Professor Patricia Lar has disclosed that there is no turning back on her aspiration.
Prof. Lar who is among 17 others jostling for the position, maintained that women have capacity for growth and development that has been locked up based on prejudices and religious beliefs.
The Professor of microbiology spoke in Jos during an event tagged: “Women in Leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world” organized by the Plateau State Chapter, Women4Women Community, He4She to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day.
Lar, who was guest speaker noted that wrong beliefs and stereotypes have hindered the exploitation of the good leadership qualities of women and urged women seeking leadership role in all spheres of life not to be deterred by undue criticisms but work to achieve their dreams.
She said, “Women have good leadership qualities that need to be exploited. A woman has capacity to give the society all embracing leadership and that is what I discovered having worked in the University for many years. There is need to create more room in leadership for women if we want the next 60 years to be better than the one we have experienced as a nation.”
Prof. Lar thanked the missionaries for schools that were created for females stating that schools allowed many women to develop, stressing, “I have worked for over 30 years in the University of Jos and feel is not wrong to aspire for the number one position in the university. I draw from strength within me and colleagues and I confronted the fear that could have been a stumbling block.”
State Coordinator of the group, Dr. Jophia Gupar, expressed delight at the strides women are taking but asked that more women aspire and attain the position of leadership especially as the general elections approach.
She said, “The entire month of March is dedicated to women and we chose to celebrate ours on March 29 because of other women engagements. I challenge women to be part of developmental activities going on in their respective communities by joining women groups.
Also, Mrs. Helen Dabup, Chairman, Central Planning Committee for the event said the topic of the celebration “choose to challenge” is apt and stressed that women should choose to challenge discrimination in the society, choose to challenge stereotypical ideas which are against women and speak up for the right of women and the girl child.
She further advised women to look out for leaders and support only male contestants that have compassion for women.
