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Plateau Hosts Maiden International Coffee Festival, Attracts Global Stakeholders

Published

1 year ago

September 1, 2025

vicky

History was made in Plateau State as Lingzhi Global successfully hosted the maiden edition of the Coffee Festival International Nigeria, bringing together coffee producers, experts, and stakeholders from across the globe. Delegates from Ethiopia, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Rwanda, Zambia, Tanzania, and over 30 other countries attended, positioning Plateau as a rising hub for global coffee culture and trade.

In her welcome address, CEO of Lingzhi Global Nigeria Ltd., Blessing Nanman, described the festival as the first of its kind in Nigeria, designed to promote skills development and showcase Plateau’s rich heritage through coffee. She revealed Lingzhi’s vision to create over 10,000 jobs within three years by building a sustainable coffee value chain with the support of government and private sector partners.

Nanman also urged Nigerians, especially Plateau citizens, to embrace patience, sacrifice, and unity, praying that the festival would renew belief in the nation’s potential and spotlight the state’s fertile land and natural resources.

Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, represented by Secretary to the State Government, Arc. Samuel Nanchang Jatau, declared the event open, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to developing the coffee value chain and encouraging youth entrepreneurship.

“Plateau is safe, full of culture, and blessed with the best weather and the best quality coffee,” he said.

The governor also announced the government’s purchase of 20 copies of Nanman’s newly launched Lindsay Coffee magazine worth ₦1 million, describing the initiative as a step toward global recognition.

Industry experts traced the sector’s history and potential. Dr. Ehindame Paul, President of the Coffee and Tea Association, recalled that Nigeria’s coffee industry collapsed in the 1980s due to global price crashes, policy shifts, and the Structural Adjustment Program. He emphasized that coffee could once again serve as Nigeria’s “real crude oil,” creating vast opportunities for young people with renewed government and private sector involvement.

Former Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, commended Nanman for bringing the festival to Plateau, saying it has “placed Plateau on the global coffee map.” She urged farmers and government to sustain support, stressing that coffee can transform lives and create jobs.

Brazilian coffee specialist, Rebecca Nogueira, described the Jos festival as “an amazing movement” with great potential.

“If Nigeria decides to make coffee a big industry, it is possible, and Brazil is ready to support from seed to cup,” she said.

The festival also showcased Plateau’s culture, with performances by Dantala, Asharuwa dancers, and Afri Theater Abuja. Special appearances by Anthony Amaechi Umeh, Lilian Uchenna, Nwosu Ngozi, and veteran actor Francis Duru added colour to the event.

With its successful debut, the Coffee Festival International Nigeria not only celebrated coffee culture but also positioned Plateau as a future global hub for coffee trade and innovation.

News

OpenAI might rebrand its data centers as ‘AI compute campuses’

Published

18 minutes ago

November 2, 2026

PlateauReports

Data centers are deeply unpopular. But what if we called them something else?

Axios reports that OpenAI is preparing a “PR blitz” for after the midterm elections on Tuesday, as Democrats seem likely to win back the House of Representatives, and possibly the Senate, too.

The company’s chief global affairs officer Chris Lehane told Axios that the midterms will be “a bit of a movie trailer for what you’re going to see in 2028,” when he expects AI to be “the issue” in the presidential election.

So OpenAI is to influence the AI debate moving forward, with Lehane discussing several proposals, including the development of AI “speed limits”; finding ways to help people see AI as empowering them in their daily lives; pushing the U.S. to take a role in developing global standards — and yes, rebranding data centers as “AI compute campuses.”

Lehane also described the conversation around data centers (a debate that has pushed Amazon and Microsoft to say they will no longer use NDAs in their negotiations with local governments) as “good and healthy.”

“Communities should hold companies responsible and accountable so they really and truly get a transformative benefit from these projects,” he said.

News

'It’s the turn of the South in 2027' – Kwankwaso tells ADC

Published

4 hours ago

November 1, 2026

PlateauReports

The Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, vice presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso has warned the African Democratic Congress, ADC, against giving its presidential ticket to a Northern candidate ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Kwankwaso gave the warning during an interactive session with journalists at his residence in Kano on Sunday.

Throwing his weight behind the NDC presidential candidate, Peter Obi, the former Kano State governor said it is the turn of the South to produce the next President in 2027, adding that the North should wait till 2031.

He added that it is unfair for the ADC to give its ticket to a Northern candidate when the South has not completed its eight years.

"ADC will lose if it gives ticket to North. It's the turn of the South in 2027. ADC should not give its presidential ticket to the North. North should wait till 2031," Kwankwaso said.

He advised the ADC to zone its presidential ticket to the South if it wants to win the 2027 election, saying Nigerians want fairness and equity.

DAILY POST reports that Kwankwaso, who is from the North, is the running mate of Peter Obi, who is from the South under the platform of the NDC.

‘It’s the turn of the South in 2027’ – Kwankwaso tells ADC