By: Destiny Young

President Bola Tinubu has named Dr Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, currently serving as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, as the new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC). This appointment comes amid heightened speculation regarding who would succeed the outgoing chairman, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, who stepped down citing health concerns.

According to a member of the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC), Dr Yilwatda’s selection reflects the party leadership’s intention to place democratic ideals at the party’s helm, moving away from the tradition of career politicians previously dominating this role.

Dr Yilwatda’s appointment was finalised on the eve of Thursday’s significant National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, following high-level discussions between President Tinubu, the APC Progressive Governors Forum, and other key stakeholders at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa on Wednesday night.

Party insiders have also highlighted that choosing Dr Yilwatda—a Christian—was a deliberate strategy to address religious diversity within the party’s national leadership, aiming to create a more balanced representation.

Dr Yilwatda brings extensive experience to the position. He was appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs in 2024 and was the APC’s gubernatorial candidate for Plateau State during the 2023 general elections. Born on 8 August 1968 in Dungung, Kanke Local Government Area, to the family of the late Reverend and Mrs Toma Yilwatda, he is recognised both for his administrative acumen and his professional achievements.

Prior to his ministerial role, Dr Yilwatda served as a Resident Electoral Commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Benue State after his appointment in 2017. An accomplished engineer, he is a registered member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Nigerian Society of Engineers, and the Solar Society of Nigeria.

With this appointment, the APC appears poised for a period of renewed leadership, with hopes that Dr Yilwatda’s broad expertise and balanced approach will steer the party towards greater unity and progress.

Profile: Dr Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda

Early Life and Education

• Date of Birth: 8 August 1968
• Place of Birth: Dungung, Kanke Local Government Area
• Family: Son of late Rev and Mrs Toma Yilwatda

Dr Nentawe Yilwatda commenced his education at LGED Primary School, Dungung, obtaining his First School Leaving Certificate in 1981. He completed his secondary education at Boys’ Secondary School, Gindiri, earning his GCE (O/Level) in 1986.

• BSc in Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi (1992)
• Master of Engineering and PhD in Digital Systems Engineering, obtained from ATBU Bauchi and University of Nigeria, Nsukka, respectively

He received further training at the United Nations University International Institute for Software Technology, Macau, China, focusing on building electronic governance structures.

Professional Affiliations and Recognition

• Registered Engineer, Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN)
• Member, Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)
• Member, Nigerian Society of Engineers
• Member, Solar Society of Nigeria
• Recipient of multiple awards in ICT and electronic engineering fields

Academic and Administrative Career

Dr Yilwatda began as an Assistant Lecturer at Plateau State Polytechnic in 1995, then moved to the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi as a Graduate Assistant in 1996. Over the years, he advanced through various roles:

• Head of Department
• Director of Information Technology
• Member of University Senate
  He has accumulated over 29 years’ experience as a lecturer and consultant for both national and international partners, spanning public and private sectors.

Electoral and Public Sector Leadership

Appointed in 2017 as Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by President Muhammadu Buhari, Yilwatda was posted as Resident Electoral Commissioner in Benue State.

Key highlights during his INEC tenure include:

• Designing voting templates for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), ensuring their electoral participation
• Overseeing challenging elections, such as the recall process for Senator Dino Melaye (2018) and supervising Rivers State polls (2019)

Consulting, Projects and Capacity Development

As a project consultant, Dr Yilwatda has contributed to major initiatives such as:

• The first Integrated Financial Management Information System for several key government institutions (Ministry of Finance, CBN, FOS, DMO, OAuGF, Budget Office)
• The World Bank STEP-B project for Nigeria’s Education and Research Network (NgREN)

These roles gave him critical insights into Nigeria’s revenue, regulatory frameworks, and public financial management.

Community Development and Philanthropy

For over a decade, Yilwatda has offered:

• Annual scholarships and JAMB sponsorships for 200 children from Kanke and Pankshin areas
• Sponsorship and organization of extra teaching to prepare students for higher education
• Support for vocational training: in 2018, he trained 100 youths in animal husbandry at the Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, empowering them to establish their own ventures
• Donation of 112 laptops to underprivileged students in 2019

He also co-founded the Bikatki Cooperative, which provides rural farmers with credit facilities to help expand their farms and reduce poverty.

Major community projects include:

• Construction of classrooms for hard-to-reach communities
• Active involvement in development of his village’s secondary school

Dr Nentawe Yilwatda is recognized for his technical expertise, commitment to public service, innovative leadership, and broad contributions to community development in Nigeria.