Professor Tanko Ishaya

Vice-Chancellor, University of Jos

Professor of Computer Science, Computer Scientist, University Administrator

Professor Tanko Ishaya is a Nigerian computer scientist and university administrator whose academic career combines computer science research with more than three decades of technical, academic and institutional leadership experience. He is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Jos, with specialist interests spanning Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, eHealth, Internet of Things, Security and Trustworthy Computing, Forensic Computing and Cybersecurity. He earned his BSc in Mathematics from the University of Jos and subsequently obtained an MSc in Computer Science and PhD in Computing from the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. Ishaya's professional career has included academic and technical appointments in Nigeria and the United Kingdom. He began his career as a lecturer in Mathematics at the College of Agriculture, Zuru, and later worked as an information technology consultant in Merseyside, Liverpool. In 2000, he joined the University of Hull, where he served as a lecturer and headed its Centre for Internet Computing. He subsequently became involved with the University of Jos through a visiting professorship and ICT leadership, including serving as the founding Director of the university's Directorate for Information and Communication Technology. He returned permanently to the University of Jos in 2012, where he became Director of ICT and the pioneer Head of the Department of Computer Science. He was appointed Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) in December 2018 before becoming Vice-Chancellor on December 1, 2021.