Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda elected unanimously As APC chairman

The National Executive Committee of the All Progressives Congress on Thursday unanimously elected the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, as the new national chairman of the party.

His emergence followed the resignation of Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, who stepped aside citing pressing private concerns.

Yilwatda’s appointment marks a new phase in the leadership of the ruling party, coming with decades of experience in academia, digital governance, and public administration.

A native of Dungung in Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, Yilwatda, born on August 8, 1968, boasts a rich professional background in engineering and policy. He holds degrees from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; and a PhD from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with specialization in Electronic and Computer Engineering.

His career in academics spans over two decades, including his tenure as the pioneer Director of ICT at his alma mater, where he led groundbreaking digital reforms. He later transitioned into consultancy, lending his expertise to international bodies like UNICEF, the EU, the World Bank, and TECHVILE USA.

In 2017, Yilwatda was appointed a Resident Electoral Commissioner with INEC, where he championed electoral innovations, especially for IDPs and persons with disabilities. He later resigned to contest for governor in Plateau State under the APC and coordinated the Tinubu/Shettima campaign in the state during the 2023 general elections.

Currently serving as a member of the Presidential Economic Management Team and chairing the Euro-African Dialogue on Migration and Development, Yilwatda is widely regarded as a technocrat with a deep understanding of governance and social impact.

His new position at the helm of the APC is expected to draw from his vast experience in leadership, digital transformation, and grassroots mobilization.