Nentanwe Yilwatda

Nentanwe Yilwatda Goshwe (born 8th August 1968) is an academic, politician and digital system and energy engineer. He starting as assistant lecturer in the department of electrical/electronic engineering of the Plateau state polytechnic Barakin Ladi in 1995. He resigned from his appointment December 2021 as the INEC Resident electoral commissioner for Benue state to contest in the 2023 governorship elections in Plateau state where he narrowly lost to the current governor of the state after a very heated campaign.
==Early life and education==
Yilwatda was born in Dungung, Kanke LGA of Plateau state to the family of a clergy, Late Rev and Mrs Toma Yilwatda on the 8th of August, 1968. He went to LGED Primary School, Dungung where he obtained his First School Leaving Certificate in 1981. He was at the prestigious Boys Secondary School Gindiri and got his GCE (O/Level) in 1986. He went to the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi for his First Degree in Electrical/Electronic Engineering in 1992, to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi for his Masters and of University of Nigeria, Nsukka for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Digital Systems and Computer Engineering. He also received training at the United Nations University International Institute for Software Tech., Macau, China on Building Electronic Governance Structure in addition to numerous other training and academic research works.
==Career==
Yilwatda's first career job was in 1995 with the Department of Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Plateau State Polytechnic, Barkin ladi. He spent over 20 years lecturing in the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi. He was appointed REC in July 2017 and posted to Benue State by the then President Buhari. He served in Benue state before he tendered his resignation letter in December 2021 and moved to his state to fully pursue his political ambition.
==Politics==
Yilwadta's political journey has been a tumultuous one, after a very promising beginning that saw him win the hearts of significant population of the youths in the state with his brilliant, elaborate and enchanting blueprint, ACEES agenda and a well planned road map for the development of Plateau state. He garnered the admiration of the highly enlightened section of the state's youth as he rolled out his innovative ideas for moving the state forward.
Trouble stated when he pitched his tent with the APC and made public his desire to purchase the gubernatorial nomination form of the APC party. Prior to the run up to start of campaigns, there'd been disenchantment from the majority of the natives of the state with how the then governor Simon Lalong handled the issue of security in the state which they viewed as favouring some perceived settlers as against the interests of the original natives of the state. Another controversy surrounding the emergence of Nentawe as the APC candidate was the allegation by some aggrieved governorship candidates of the party that he was hand picked by Simon Lalong, they alleged that Lalong unduly influenced the victory of Nentawe in the primaries - an allegation Nentawe has dismissed as baseless. He picked Pam Bot-mang the son of a late former deputy governor in the state as running mate
He continued to be a massive prospect in the gubernatorial race until a late sinister campaign move from the opposition gave the entire race a religious and ethnic 
undertone which turned out to be a calculated blow the turned the tides in the shortest possible time against the APC. The postponement of the governorship elections by INEC for three weeks also didn't do justice to Nentawe's aspirations as the opposition ensured they used the religious card to the maximum, eventually elections still went neck to neck as the PDP won narrowly after a very keenly contested elections.
==Post election events==
Yilwatda rejected the results announced by the Plateau REC and Returning officers faulting the outcome and results while identifying alleged irregularities. He headed to the Election petitions tribunal to challenge the results and outcome of the elections. On 22nd September 2023 The Plateau State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal upheld the election of the PDP candidate. Nentawe might challenge the judgement of the tribunal at the Supreme court as he is yet to public accept the decision of the Tribunal.
==Community works==
Dr. Nentawe is a community builder with passion for societal development, this is shown in his numerous contributions in diverse ways to uplift and bring solutions to his immediate communities and beyond. He has provided scholarship and paid JAMB fees for about 200 kids from Kanke and Pankshin for years while also hiring teachers to train them. He provides support to those that pass JAMB to secure admission into higher institutions. 
He provided trainings to about 100 youths from Kanke and Pankshin in animal husbandry handled by the Veterinary Research Institute, Vom Plateau state in 2018. He followed up by ensuring all the participants set up their piggeries. he also provided about one hundred and twelve laptops to students of higher institutions in Pankshin and Kanke LGAs.
==Contribution to national development==
Yilwatda has worked, contributed and led several committees of the Federal government like being a member of it's Energy Research delegation to USA and Canada on different occasions to negotiate technology transfer and acquisition opportunities for the nation.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 system for Enugu, Cross Rivers, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Benue, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra states.
He was an active part of the initiative to deploy clean, Eco-friendly electricity that is connected using micro-grid to communities. There are several other high end technological innovative initiatives he anchored, led, initiated or participated nationally and globally.
He is a member of many engineering societies, institutes and winner and recipient of numerous awards locally and internationally.
==Personal==
He is a devoted Christian and a member of Chucrh Of Christ In Nations (COCIN) church where his late father had served. He is married to Dr Mrs Martina Yilwatda and their marriage is blessed with one boy.
Category:1968 births
Category:University of Nigeria alumni
Category:Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University alumni
Category:Academics
Category:Politicians