Vice Chancellor
Specialization: Security & Trustworthy Computing; Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Forensic Computing, & Software Engineering
Research Interests: Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, eHealth, Forensics and Cybersecurity
Professor Tanko Ishaya is a Professor of Computer Science with specialism and research focus in Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), eHealth, Internet of Things (IoT), Security & Trustworthy Computing, Forensics and Cyber Security. He is a seasoned, multi-skilled IT professional equipped with over thirty (30) years hands-on technical experience. An accomplished international academic with a proven track record of scholarship and academic management. He has a BSc in Mathematics/Edu from the University of Jos, Nigeria and both his MSc and PhD in Computation from the University of Manchester, Manchester, UK in 1997 and 2001 respectively. He is an international scholar and researcher who has demonstrated excellent management and leadership abilities.
Tanko began his career as a lecturer in Mathematics at the College of Agriculture, Zuru, Kebbi State. He worked as Information Technology Consultant with GFA Consulting and Business Link, Merseyside, Liverpool, UK from 1997 to 1999. He joined the University of Hull, UK from October 2000 as a Lecturer and was Head of the Centre for Internet Computing of the University. In 2008, he was a visiting professor to the University of Jos whilst on his Sabbatical from the University of Hull and was the founding Director of the University’s Directorate for Information and Communication Technology. He returned back to the University of Hull in January 2009 after his Sabbatical. As ICT Consultant to the University of Jos, He contributed to the successful implementation of the 3-year Jos-Carnegie 2nd Tranche Partnership grant and contributed to the development of a further 3-year 3rd Tranche Partnership Proposal that led to the approval of the sum of $1.5 million to the University and contributed to its effective implementation.
Professor Ishaya came back to the University of Jos in 2012 on request and doubled as Director ICT and pioneer Head of Computer Science Department at the University of Jos. He was appointed the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) on December 10, 2018, and the Vice-Chancellor, University of Jos, Nigeria since December 1, 2021, providing academic leadership that promotes a culture of excellence, innovation and enterprise. He is currently the Chairman of the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities.
He has successfully executed a number of national and internationally funded Research Projects as Principal Investigator (PI) and co-investigator and has supervised to successful completion five (5) PhD students, four (4) MSc students by Research and over 50 taught MScs dissertations in a variety of areas of computing in the UK. He is currently supervising PhD and postgraduate projects in the area of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity. He has secured over Three Million US Dollar ($3 Million) in competitive funding grants. His teaching and research in the field computer science has supported, influenced and contributed to key areas of government policy nationally and globally. He has published scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and conferences and has attended numerous professional and technical training programmes home and abroad. He is a reviewer for many journals and conferences including the IEEE Journal of Computers & Security and funding bodies.
Tanko has served in many committees and advisory boards including being Chairman, Committee of Directors of ICT (ComDICT) in Nigerian Universities, Member of Education and Manpower Development Committee of Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN) 2015-2017, A co-host an African Translational Research Group (ATReG). A Member of the TETFund Technical Advisory Group, and a member of the French Government Funded Nigeria–France Adaptation to Climate Change Research Group. He is currently a Member of the TETFund National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee charged with the responsibility of evaluating all national research proposals and continuous evaluation of the projects through monitoring mechanisms. He is also an evaluator on the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) development projects. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Computer Society and is professional member of a number of professional bodies and associations, including Fellow British Computer Society (BCS), Nigerian Computer Society (NCS), Association of Forensic Professional of Nigeria (AFPON), Academy of Natural Science and Engineering in Nigeria(ANSEN), Chartered Member Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), Computer Forensics Institute (CFIN), Professional Member Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN), Academy of Computing Machinery (ACM), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
He is a certified IT practitioner, agile project manager, cybersecurity analyst forensic examiner and a recognised expert witness in fingerprint and handwriting examination.