Tor Tiv to Crown APC Chairman Prof. Yilwatda, Wife as ‘Zegembar-U-Tiv’

By Emmanuel Kwada 

The Tor Tiv, His Royal Majesty Prof. James Ortese Iorzua Ayatse, will bestow the prestigious chieftaincy title of Zegembar-U-Tiv meaning “Great Shadow of the Tiv” on All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda and his wife, Dr. Martina Nentawe Yilwatda, during a grand ceremony tomorrow.

The conferment, a rare honor reserved for non-indigenous luminaries who embody protection, shelter, and patronage for the Tiv people, underscores the couple’s pivotal role in fostering national cohesion amid Nigeria’s diverse ethnic tapestry.

Scheduled for Saturday, December 13, 2025, at the iconic J.S. Tarka Stadium in Gboko the cradle of Tiv heritage the event will draw traditional rulers, political heavyweights, and dignitaries from across the nation, culminating in a vibrant reception celebrating Tiv traditions through music, dance, and communal feasting.

Prof. Yilwatda, 57, hails from Dungung in Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, born on August 8, 1968, into a lineage of public service as the son of the late Rev. Toma Yilwatda.

A renowned engineer, academic, and digital systems expert with a doctorate in energy engineering, he ascended to the APC’s national helm in July 2025, steering the party through reforms and inclusive policies.

His tenure has emphasized poverty alleviation, humanitarian advocacy, and Middle Belt solidarity, earning him acclaim as a “bridge-builder” who has nurtured deep bonds with the Tiv nation despite his Berom roots.

“This exceptional honour… represents a deep and enduring bond between two brotherly communities linked by shared values, mutual respect, and a longstanding history of sociocultural interaction,” the Yilwatda family stated in an announcement, highlighting Prof. Nentawe’s reputation as a promoter of peaceful coexistence in a region often scarred by resource disputes and ethnic frictions.

Equally celebrated is Dr. Martina Nentawe Yilwatda, a trailblazing educator and public health advocate whose initiatives in gender empowerment and family support have touched countless lives.

“Admired for her impactful work in education, gender empowerment, and public health… she is being honoured for her devotion to humanitarian causes and her steadfast support to families and vulnerable groups,” the family noted, positioning her as a pillar of compassion in national discourse.

The Zegembar-U-Tiv title, akin to the exalted “Zege Mule U Tiv” previously conferred on figures like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, symbolizes a profound endorsement from the Tiv Traditional Council.

As the paramount ruler of the Tiv Nigeria’s fifth-largest ethnic group with over 5 million members Prof. Ayatse, himself a distinguished professor of religious studies and the fifth Tor Tiv since 2017, uses such honors to reinforce inter-community harmony.

“Prof. Nentawe’s warm relationship with the Tiv nation… has endeared him to many across the Middle Belt,” the announcement emphasized, evoking the fraternal ties between Plateau and Benue States that have long defied Nigeria’s fault lines.

The ceremony arrives at a poignant moment for the APC, as Prof. Yilwatda navigates the party’s preparations for upcoming polls while championing unity in a polarized political landscape.

Friends, political allies, traditional leaders, and well-wishers from Nigeria and the diaspora are invited to witness what promises to be a “colourful and dignified display of Tiv culture, unity, and appreciation for leadership that inspires.”