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Leadership Profile
The APC National Chairman
Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda is the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nigeria's ruling political party.
As APC National Chairman, Prof. Yilwatda serves as the chief strategist and unifier of Nigeria's leading political party. He brings strategic clarity and youthful energy to the party, leading efforts to strengthen internal democracy, expand membership, and align the focus of the party with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda.
Biography
The journey to national leadership
From academic excellence and digital transformation to election management, humanitarian service, and party leadership, Prof. Yilwatda's story bridges policy, technology, and public trust.
Born on August 8, 1968, in Dungung, Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, Prof. Yilwatda hails from a lineage rooted in service, the son of the late Reverend Toma and Lydia Yilwatda. He attended the prestigious Boys' Secondary School, Gindiri, and went on to earn a Bachelor's degree from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, a Master's degree from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and a Ph.D. in Electronic and Computer Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
A distinguished scholar, Prof. Yilwatda served the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, for over 26 years, where he was the pioneer Director of ICT and a member of the University Senate. His digital transformation initiatives modernised institutional systems and earned him multiple awards, including Best Staff of the Year and Best Director of the Year.
His expertise in digital innovation and governance led him to serve as a consultant to leading global development partners, including the European Union, UNICEF, the World Bank, and TECHVILE USA. In 2017, he was appointed as the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Benue State with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In that role, he pioneered reforms in voter inclusion and technology-driven election management.
In 2021, Prof. Yilwatda resigned from INEC to pursue public service through elective office as the APC gubernatorial candidate in Plateau State and later coordinated the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organisation during the 2023 General Elections. He was appointed Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in 2024, where he championed inclusive growth and social protection reforms before his election as APC National Chairman in 2025.
Today, Prof. Yilwatda leads the APC with a focus on unity, innovation, and accountability. He serves as the chief strategist of the party, responsible for shaping its political direction, fostering cohesion, and aligning its governance agenda with national development priorities of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda.
What defines his public service
An accomplished academic with a Ph.D. and more than two decades of university service, he built a reputation for rigorous thinking, institutional reform, and excellence in ICT transformation.
From university systems modernisation to voter inclusion reforms at INEC, his career shows a consistent commitment to using technology to improve public systems and civic outcomes.
As APC National Chairman, he brings strategic clarity and youthful energy to strengthening internal democracy, expanding membership, and aligning party direction with national development priorities.
A timeline of service
Education and engineering training
After Boys' Secondary School, Gindiri, he earned degrees from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi
He served for over 26 years, became pioneer Director of ICT, sat on the University Senate, and led digital transformation initiatives that modernised institutional systems.
Resident Electoral Commissioner, Benue State
At INEC, he advanced voter inclusion and technology-driven election management, reinforcing his profile as a reform-minded public administrator.
Elective politics and campaign leadership
He resigned from INEC to pursue public service through elective office in Plateau State and later coordinated the Tinubu/Shettima Campaign Organisation for the 2023 General Elections.
Federal minister to APC National Chairman
After serving as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in 2024, he was elected APC National Chairman in 2025 to help shape the party's future direction.
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