Events
PLABOMA Marks 2026 World Social Media Day, Unveils Unified Bloggers Website in Jos
The Plateau Bloggers and Online Media Association (PLABOMA) hosted an impactful 2026 World Social Media Day celebration in Jos, bringing together key stakeholders, media professionals, content creators, students and digital enthusiasts to promote innovation, creativity and responsible use of social media.
The event was held at Usiju World Event Center, under the theme “Digital Voices: Innovation, Creativity and Youth Engagement,” served as a platform for meaningful conversations on the growing influence of digital media, while highlighting the role of young people in driving innovation, collaboration and positive social change through online platforms.
Speaking during the event, Chairman of PLABOMA, Chief Matthew Oyerinde Tegha, has said social media has evolved beyond a communication tool to become a major driver of economic growth, innovation, job creation and civic engagement.
He said bloggers and content creators have a critical role to play in reshaping the narrative about Plateau State, urging them to use their digital platforms to promote the state’s tourism potential, cultural heritage, entrepreneurial successes and investment opportunities rather than allowing negative stories to dominate public discourse.
Tegha also called on the Plateau State Government, peace builders, entrepreneurs and business owners to work closely with bloggers and content creators in promoting Plateau’s tourism potential, cultural heritage and investment opportunities, saying such partnerships would help reshape the state’s image and drive development.
The keynote speaker and Plateau State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs. Kaneng Pam Hworo, challenged young people to use their digital voices as instruments for innovation, creativity and nation-building rather than spreading harmful content.
Speaking on the theme, “Digital Voices: Innovation, Creativity and Youth Engagement,” Hworo said social media has evolved beyond a communication platform into a powerful tool capable of shaping public opinion, mobilising communities and influencing national development. She noted that every post, video, podcast or livestream carries the potential to make a positive impact.
According to her, every smartphone has become a powerful platform, while every content creator has the capacity to serve as an agent of positive change. She urged youths to leverage their digital influence responsibly by promoting truth, creativity, innovation and values that contribute to the growth of their communities and the nation.
Also speaking, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to the Plateau State Governor, Dr. Gyang Bere, urged bloggers and content creators to use their digital platforms to promote peace, unity and responsible journalism, stressing that citizen journalism comes with the responsibility of protecting national security and fostering social cohesion.
He called on digital media practitioners to project Plateau State’s positive stories, including its development strides, tourism potential and resilient people, assuring them of Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s continued support for the media in advancing responsible digital communication and sustainable development.
Member of the PLABOMA Board of Trustees, Mr. Yakubu Taddy, cautioned social media users against irresponsible online activities, warning that what people post on digital platforms could have lasting consequences on their personal and professional lives. He urged content creators to be mindful of the information they share online.
Taddy also called for stronger collaboration among media and social media organisations to promote fact-checking and responsible journalism, encouraging bloggers and digital publishers to verify information before publication in order to curb the spread of misinformation.
A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of PLABOMA’s Unified Bloggers Website, a first-of-its-kind platform designed to connect over 30 active bloggers, strengthen collaboration and boost the visibility of digital journalism in Plateau State.
Stakeholders at the event commended PLABOMA for launching its Unified Bloggers Website: https://plaboma.com/ , describing the initiative as a major step towards strengthening collaboration among online publishers and promoting credible digital journalism in Plateau State.
They, however, urged the association to expand the platform’s focus by promoting Plateau State’s rich tourism destinations, cultural heritage and investment opportunities, noting that consistent positive storytelling would help reshape the state’s image and attract more visitors and investors.
The Secretary of the Plateau Bloggers and Online Media Association (PLABOMA), Mr. Ibrahim Kallamu, said social media has evolved into a powerful tool for communication, business, education, news dissemination and civic engagement, urging participants to leverage digital platforms responsibly to create opportunities, promote innovation and contribute to societal development.
Popular content creator and comedian, Mr. Sunday Agbaji, popularly known as Hilarious Sunnie, highlighted the transformative power of digital media, sharing his journey in content creation and encouraging young people to embrace creativity, consistency and originality. He noted that impactful digital content has the potential to educate, inspire, entertain and create sustainable economic opportunities.
Delivering his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service (PSIRS), Dr. Jim Pam Wayas, urged young people and content creators to take advantage of the enormous economic opportunities offered by social media, stressing that impactful storytelling and content creation can be monetised to generate sustainable income while promoting positive narratives about Plateau State and Nigeria.
Representing the Director-General of the Plateau State Peacebuilding Agency, Dr. Julie Sanda, Mr. Kenneth Dakop, Team Lead, Strategic Communication, commended PLABOMA for promoting peace and positive narratives through digital media, describing the association as a strategic partner in advancing social cohesion and assuring it of the agency’s continued support in building a peaceful and united Plateau State.
Representing the Commander of Operation Enduring Peace, Maj. Gen. EF Oyinlola, Capt. CP Oteh commended PLABOMA for promoting responsible digital journalism and urged bloggers and content creators to use their platforms to support security efforts, promote peacebuilding and foster unity by sharing verified information and positive narratives about Plateau State.
The event ended with the presentation of awards to outstanding individuals and organisations, including PLASMIDA bagged an award of excellence for youth Empowerment and Development, PLASCHEMA award of excellence for effective use of social media to promote public health, NUJ Chairman Mrs. Ayuku Pwaspo as Media Icon, the Plateau State Ministry of Information and communication got an award of excellence for Media Advancement , and Dr Godwin Okoko Executive Director of Bege Foundation for Youth Engagement and Impact.
Lingzhi Global Nigeria Ltd. has announced plans to hold the second edition of the Coffee Festival International Nigeria in Calabar, Cross River State, from October 30 to November 1, 2026, as part of efforts to promote coffee production and expand opportunities across the value chain.
The festival, organised in collaboration with the National Coffee and Tea Association of Nigeria, NACOFTAN, will be held under the theme, “Coffee Sustainability and Empowerment: Focusing on Women and Youth Development,” with emphasis on skills development, community development and job creation.
The Chief Executive Officer of Lingzhi Global, Mrs. Blessing Nanman, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, saying the event would bring together coffee stakeholders, investors and international participants to explore opportunities in farming, processing, packaging, marketing and export.
“Farmers have gone to work. Some processors are already at the verge of breaking through. This is the time where we want to invite all investors, partners and international organisations to support us in the coffee industry,” Nanman said.
She said the maiden edition attracted participants from different countries, while the 2026 festival is expected to draw representatives from about 30 countries. According to her, the event would further define opportunities within the coffee value chain and encourage local consumption of coffee.
Nanman said Lingzhi Global was also expanding its coffee business through the establishment of coffee shops, noting that the outlets had become platforms where communities, families and people from different backgrounds could connect over coffee.
She said Cross River was selected to host the second edition because of its potential for coffee production and the state government’s efforts to expand cultivation through the distribution of millions of coffee seedlings.
Speaking on the forthcoming festival, Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, commended Lingzhi Global for its role in promoting coffee and tea development in the state and for working with stakeholders to strengthen the sector.
He said the company had contributed efforts to improve farmers’ access to seedlings, knowledge and markets, describing its partnership with the state as important to the development of the coffee value chain.
“We are pleased to be collaborating with Lingzhi Global, organisers of the International Coffee Festival, and NACOFTAN,” Ebokpo said.
The commissioner said the festival would give Cross River greater visibility as a coffee-producing destination while creating opportunities for women and young people to participate in the industry.
“This is also an opportunity for us to use the festival as a platform to create jobs for our people, particularly women and youths, while providing them with opportunities to learn more and develop their skills,” he said.
Ebokpo said the coffee industry extends beyond farming to processing, packaging and export, stressing that young people could create businesses and develop their own brands by participating in different stages of the value chain.
He said Cross River has about 23,000 square kilometres of arable land suitable for coffee development and has the agro-ecological advantage of producing both Arabica and Robusta varieties. He added that the state plans to distribute at least 30 million coffee seedlings over five years.
President of NACOFTAN, Dr. Hassan Usman, said the festival would provide an opportunity for Nigerian stakeholders to exchange knowledge and technology with international players in the coffee industry.
“The Coffee Festival is not only Nigerian in inclusion, but international. We have people coming from Brazil, Indonesia, Kenya and all the countries. The globe will be around with us,” Usman said.
Usman also commended Lingzhi Global for taking stakeholders across the country and beyond to gain knowledge in coffee processing and marketing, saying the company had played a critical role in connecting Nigerian stakeholders with international opportunities.
He said stakeholders would use the gathering to strategise on strengthening the coffee value chain and changing the narrative around coffee production in Nigeria, while calling for greater participation from government agencies, investors and other stakeholders.
The 2026 Coffee Festival International Nigeria is expected to bring together farmers, processors, roasters, investors, experts and other stakeholders from Nigeria and abroad for three days of knowledge-sharing, networking and promotion of the coffee industry.
The streets of Jos echoed with a simple message on Saturday: peace is everyone’s responsibility.
As part of activities marking the 2026 International Day of Peace, the Women for Positive Peacebuilding Initiative (WOPPI) joined other peace organisations for a peace walk from Old Airport Junction to Secretariat Junction Bridge.
Holding placards calling for unity, dialogue and peaceful coexistence, participants took the message of peace to the streets and into the public space.
This year’s International Day of Peace, observed on September 21, is themed “Invest in Peace – For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.” The United Nations says the theme highlights the role of ordinary people as “everyday architects of peace.” (United Nations Peacekeeping)
For WOPPI Executive Director, Lantana Abdullah, the message is particularly important for Plateau, a state with a history of violent conflicts.
She said peace cannot be left to government or security agencies alone. Every citizen, she stressed, has a role to play.
“Every citizen residing in Plateau or beyond Plateau or in Nigeria must play their part in making sure we sustain and build enduring peace for everyone.”
Abdullah urged citizens to choose dialogue over confrontation, report responsibly and speak up when they see issues capable of threatening peace.
She also challenged negative narratives about Plateau, pointing out that people continue to live, work and build their livelihoods across the state despite its troubled past.
For WOPPI, women must also be at the centre of this process. The organisation works to strengthen women’s voices, train them as mediators and involve them in preventing and resolving conflicts within their communities.
The walk therefore carried more than placards. It carried a reminder: peace is not something people wait for others to create. It is something communities build—one conversation, one intervention and one peaceful choice at a time.
And in the words of this year’s global message, that investment must happen for everyone, everywhere, every day. (United Nations)
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