COA Media has announced Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, as the Plateau Man of the Year 2025.
Announcing the selection, Team Lead of the Plateau Man of the Year Awards (PMYA), Ambassador Cletus Akhimien, said the honour recognised Professor Yilwatda’s outstanding leadership, humanitarian service, and sustained contributions to the socio-economic development of Plateau State. He noted that the award reflected Yilwatda’s consistent commitment to people-centred initiatives that have positively impacted communities across the state.
Professor Yilwatda’s interventions span key sectors including healthcare, education, agriculture, youth empowerment, women’s economic inclusion, and social welfare. Among his notable initiatives are free medical outreaches across the three senatorial zones of the state, skills acquisition programmes for youths, agricultural empowerment projects for farmers, and financial support for women and young entrepreneurs.
Beyond these, his humanitarian efforts have extended to victims of insecurity, widows, retired workers, students, and other vulnerable groups, underscoring what the organisers described as a leadership style anchored on compassion, service, and inclusiveness.
According to COA Media, the 2025 recipient emerged through a transparent public nomination and selection process conducted between November 19 and December 16, 2025. The process attracted widespread participation and overwhelming public support, reflecting broad confidence in Professor Yilwatda’s leadership and impact.
Past winners of the Plateau Man of the Year Award include Ambassador Yahaya Kwande; former Governor Simon Bako Lalong; Dame Pauline Tallen; Hon. Chris Kwaja, PhD; Hon. Beni B. Lar; Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase; Sir Joseph Ntung Ari; Engr. Chief Dr. Meshach Congo Maichibi; and Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang.
The organisers noted that the 2025 edition coincides with the 11th anniversary of the Plateau Man of the Year Awards, reinforcing its standing as a leading platform for recognising individuals and institutions contributing to development, unity, and positive transformation in Plateau State.
The award will be formally presented at a grand ceremony scheduled for Sunday, February 8, 2026, at the Usiju World Events Centre, Jos.
The Plateau Man of the Year Awards is an annual flagship initiative of COA Media, established to celebrate excellence, innovation, and impactful service across both public and private sectors in Plateau State.
