Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda is a politician, philanthropist, digital system and energy engineering expert, community developer, and university scholar with the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi with over 29 years of experience working as a consultant with the international development partners, and the public and private sectors.
Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda was among the Governorship contestants in Plateau State for the 2023 election, he won the APC Governorship primary ticket of the State.
Early Life and Education
Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda was born in Dungung, Kanke LG to the family of a clergyman, the Late Rev, and Mrs. Toma Yilwatda on the 8th of August, 1968.
Dr. Nentawe Goshwe 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 the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, and his Master of Engineering and Ph.D. from ATBU Bauchi and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka respectively where he specialized in Digital systems engineering.
He was also trained by the United Nations University International Institute for Software Tech., Macau, China on Building Electronic Governance Structure.
In addition, Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda received expert training from the Association of African Universities (AAU) on Sustainable Development in Africa using Higher Education and was part of the implementation team.
He has received specialized training from AfriNIC, Mauritius, and NetTel@Africa, Nairobi Kenya that helped in the early transition of Internet Protocol Address Users in Africa, and Capacity Building and Knowledge Exchange in ICT Policy, Regulation, and Application.
In addition, he has been trained by the MacArthur Foundation USA, KFI International, the National Universities Commission, the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, the Education Trust Fund, the UNDP, and the World Bank.
Working Career of Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda
Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda started his working career as an Assistant Lecturer in 1995, in the Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin Ladi after which he moved to the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi as a Graduate Assistant in 1996.
In the University system, Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda has over 25 years of teaching, research, and project implementation in the areas of software engineering, and sustainable development using passive and active renewable energy technologies.
He served the University for 12 years as the pioneer Director of Information and Communication Technology and was a member of the University Senate in addition to serving in many committees both in the University and at the national level.
He has been honoured by the University as the best staff of the year, Best Director of the year, and also a national project award winner among many other awards.
Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda has also graduated many Masters and Ph.D. students and has many publications to his name.
Impactful Contributions at National Level
Nentawe has participated in some of the leading ICT reforms that enhanced the transparency of government accounts and strengthened institutions.
He was part of the experts that were engaged between 2003 and 2005 as consultants to work with Alteq Ltd/European Union to conduct a needs assessment and served as a project consultant on the first Integrated Financial Management Information System for the Ministry of Finance, CBN, FOS, OAGF, Debt Management Office, OAuGF, National Planning Commission and Budget Office.
This gave him the opportunity to have a firm knowledge of the revenue and financial framework of Nigeria, the regulations, policies, and opportunities.
Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda was also part of the team that worked on the grant by the World Bank to implement a Unified Network and ICT Solution for Nigeria’s Education and Research Network (NgREN) through the World Bank STEP-B project.
He was the lead consultant for UNICEF A – Field Office between 2005 and 2012 in a turnkey project that covered the design, training of Chain Officers and UNICEF Consultants, and installation of alternative energy sources for cold chain systems for Enugu, Cross Rivers, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra states.
This project in addition to the rich engineering experience exposed him to the weaknesses inherent in our health and educational infrastructure, especially in the North Central, South East, and South-South geographical zones.
Dr. Yilwatda was a member of the Federal Government Energy Research delegation to the 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 the Residential and Public sector.
He was the lead consultant for the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Abuja/UNDP which conducted the Energy and Economic Audit of 34 selected factories in Nigeria in addition to his experience in assessing the economic resources of some West African countries.
He also served as a consultant for Gante Engineering on energy efficiency and power quality assessment of many factories in Nigeria.
Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda was part of the 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.
Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda was appointed by Mr. President in 2017 as a Commissioner with Independent National Electoral Commission and posted to Benue State as the Resident Electoral Commissioner in July 2017.
As an INEC commissioner, Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda championed IDP voting rights and was a member of the committee that developed the operational framework and guidelines for IDP voting in Nigeria.
He spearheaded working with International Partners and civil society organizations to innovatively set up schools for IDP kids and empowered women with skills that metamorphosed into a cooperative to reduce poverty in the camps.
He worked with the office of the United Nations Representative to West Africa and the Sahel in Senegal and other partners to hold 66 town hall meetings to negotiate peace with critical political actors in Benue state which led to the first-ever peaceful election since 1999.
Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda was also part of the team that was sent on the study tour of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of South Africa to study experiences and best practices as part of the preparation for the 2019 general election.
He was a member of the team that worked with clusters of people living with disabilities to develop operational frameworks and guidelines for PWDs.
Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda is known for hardstand in supporting free, fair, and credible elections and has been drafted to participate in some of the most difficult elections across the country.
Among them are the Anambra state Governorship Election 2017, the Recall of Senator representing Kogi West 2018, the Osun Governorship election 2018, the Benue state Presidential and Governorship elections 2019, Rivers state Governorship and House of assembly election 2019, and the Cross River North Senatorial Election 2020.
Impacts as the Son of the Soil on the Plateau
He is a lover of the academic development of his community and is committed to building the younger generation by lifting them out of poverty.
In the last 12 years, Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda has been providing scholarships and paying JAMB for 200 kids from Kanke and Pankshin annually in addition to hiring teachers to train them.
He supports those that pass JAMB to secure admission into higher institutions.
In 2018, he trained 100 youths from Kanke and Pankshin in animal husbandry which was anchored by Veterinary Research Institute, Vom.
All the trainees that participated in the 10 monthly internships were empowered to set up their piggeries.
In 2019, Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda distributed 112 laptops to indigent students of higher institutions in Pankshin and Kanke.
Nentawe is also the co-founder of the Bikatki cooperative which supports rural poor farmers to access credit to expand their farms in order to reduce poverty and have a sustainable income.
Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda has spearheaded the building of classrooms in primary schools for indigent and hard-to-reach communities, and also participated actively in the development of the community secondary school in his village.
Personal Life of Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda
Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda is a registered Engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), a member Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a member of the Nigeria Society of Engineers, a member of Solar Society of Nigeria and has enjoyed many awards and recognitions in the area of ICT and electronic engineering.
Inside Jos gathered that Dr. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda is a devoted Christian and a member of the Church of Christ In Nations (COCIN) church.
Dr. Nentawe is married to Dr. Mrs. Martina Yilwatda and the marriage is blessed with one boy.
Facebook: Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe
Twitter: @nentawe1
Website: drnentawe.org
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