President Bola Tinubu has appointed Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda as the new Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and poverty Alleviation.
His appointment lays to rest speculations about the return of Betta Edu, the suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.
Yilwatda was the All Progressives Congress (APC) Plateau governorship candidate in the 2023 election.
He was born on August 8, 1968 in Dungung, Kanke LG to the family of a clergy, Late Rev and Mrs Toma Yilwatda
Yilwatda’s educational career started with him passing the First School Leaving Certificate at LGED Primary School, Dungung in 1981 and GCE (O/Level) in 1986 from the prestigious Boys’ Secondary School, Gindiri
He got his First Degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering in 1992 from Federal University Agriculture, Makurdi and his Master of Engineering and PhD from ATBU Bauchi and University of Nigeria, Nsukka respectively where he specialized in Digital systems engineering.
Yilwatda was part of PAWA 774 project which is a private sector-led imitative to deploy clean, eco-friendly electricity that is connected using micro-grid to communities. He also worked with Tech-Ville USA to train 100 software and renewable energy engineers in Ondo state for international certifications and human capital export.
He was appointed in 2017 as a Commissioner with Independent National Electoral Commission and posted to Benue State as the Resident Electoral Commissioner in July 2017.
He is a registered Engineer with Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), member Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, member Nigeria Society of Engineers, member Solar Society of Nigeria and has enjoyed many awards and recognitions in the area of ICT and electronic engineering.
He was the lead consultant for UNICEF A – Field Office between 2005 and 20012 in a turnkey project that covered the design, training of Chain Officers and UNICEF Consultants, and installation of alternative energy sources for cold chain system for Enugu, Cross Rivers, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra states.
Yilwatda was a member of the Federal Government Energy Research delegation to USA and Canada on two separate occasions to negotiate technology transfer and acquisition opportunities for Nigeria. He subsequently served in the implementation team of the Cuban Government/ECN programme that promoted energy Efficiency in Residential and Public Sector.
He is a member of COCIN church. He is married to Dr Mrs Martina Yilwatda
