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Plateau to Host Nigeria’s First International Coffee Festival in August

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30 Countries, Nigeria’s Maiden Coffee Festival

 

Plateau State will host Nigeria’s maiden International Coffee Festival from August 28 to 30, 2025, at Langfield, Little Rayfield, Jos. Organized by Lingzhi Global Nigeria Ltd., the event seeks to reposition coffee from an overlooked crop into a catalyst for economic growth, job creation, and cultural exchange.

Addressing journalists, Blessing Nanman, Chief Executive Officer of Lingzhi Global, described the festival as “a legacy project” that will rotate annually across Nigeria’s 36 states, beginning with Plateau. “This is not just a beverage festival. It’s about empowerment, job creation, mindset shift, and national development. Plateau State is taking the lead to inspire others,” she said.

Participants from over 30 countries, including coffee powerhouses such as Brazil, are expected to attend. The three-day program will feature barista competitions, tastings, workshops, cultural exhibitions, and training sessions, giving visitors a full coffee experience from planting to roasting, packaging, branding, and sales. Traditional Plateau dishes paired with locally brewed coffee will also be showcased.

Nanman outlined post-event plans that include establishing 821 coffee shops nationwide, introducing mobile coffee carts, creating coffee education centers, and offering start-up grants to coffee and chocolate entrepreneurs. These initiatives are projected to generate more than 10,000 jobs within three years.

For local farmers, the festival represents renewed hope. Mr. Fei-Ishaku Davou, Chairman of the Plateau State Chapter of the National Coffee and Tea Association of Nigeria, recounted past challenges, including a 2005 incident in which a farmer burned his 10,000-seedling coffee farm due to lack of market access. “We have the farmers and the foundation. Now it’s time to build,” he said.

The Plateau State Government has pledged its support, describing the initiative as a tool for youth empowerment and economic revival. Nanven Barko, Chairman of the local organizing committee, added, “We are not just creating jobs. We are reviving our economy. We are uplifting the naira. Coffee can once again be our pride.”

Organizers say Plateau’s altitude, fertile soil, and favorable climate position it as Nigeria’s coffee capital. With global attention set to turn to Jos in August, the state aims to brew more than coffee — it hopes to brew opportunity, innovation, and national pride.

For vendor bookings and participation, call 07044298455 or 09021412121.

 

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Rex Insurance Meets NAICOM Minimum Capital Requirement Under NIIRA 2025

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BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Rex Insurance Limited has successfully met the new Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR) prescribed by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) under the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act, (NIIRA) 2025, reinforcing its financial strength, enhancing its underwriting capacity and reaffirming its unwavering commitment to policyholders and stakeholders.

The announcement follows NAICOM’s publication of insurance companies confirmed to have complied with the new capital requirement.

A statement released today by the company, said the achievement reflects the disciplined financial management, strong corporate governance, and strategic vision that have positioned Rex Insurance Limited as a resilient organization committed to delivering greater value to customers while supporting national economic growth.

“It also marks the beginning of a new phase in the Company’s journey, one focused on sustaining capital strength, accelerating profitable growth, enhancing operational excellence, and delivering superior customer value.

Commenting on the milestone, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Rex Insurance Limited, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Nwachukwu, said: “Meeting the new Minimum Capital Requirement is a significant milestone in our journey and demonstrates the resilience of our business as well as the confidence of our shareholders in our long-term vision. It also reinforces our ability to honour our commitments to policyholders while positioning us for sustainable growth in an evolving insurance landscape.”

She further emphasized “Our recapitalization marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Rex Insurance. It is not an end, but a strategic foundation for sustainable growth and long-term value creation. With a stronger capitalbase, we are well equipped to increase our underwriting capacity, elevate customer experience, and deepen our investment in technology, innovation, and operational excellence.

“This enhanced financial strength enables us to provide smarter insurance solutions that respond to the evolving needs of our customers, deliver greater value to our stakeholders, support the advancement of Nigeria’s insurance industry, and maintain our unwavering commitment to prompt claims settlement to our policyholders”

Rex Insurance commended NAICOM for its leadership in strengthening the insurance sector through the recapitalization exercise and remains committed to supporting initiatives that promote a more resilient, competitive, and inclusive insurance market.

The insurer expressed its appreciation to its shareholders, Board of Directors, employees, customers, brokers, and business partners for their unwavering support and confidence, which have contributed to this important achievement .

“As the industry enters a new phase of growth, Rex Insurance’s focus now shifts from achieving capital adequacy to sustaining capital strength through disciplined execution, profitable growth, continuous innovation, and exceptional customer experience.”

The Company remains committed to delivering reliable insurance solutions, honouring its promises to policyholders, and creating sustainable value for all stakeholders while strengthening its position as a trusted insurance partner

About Rex Insurance Limited 
Rex Insurance Limited (Rex) is licensed by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to offer the full range of general and special risks insurance products to the insuring public. With decades of experience in the Nigerian market, Rex Insurance has an enviable reputation for technical competence and financial strength.
With a vision of being the “Preferred Nigerian Insurance Company”, our strategic direction within the next 5 years is to focus on growth and profitability with the aim of growing the company’s gross premium written and be amongst the Top-Top-Tier general insurance companies in the market.

Operating from twelve (12) business locations nationwide to ensure maximum outreach and
accessibility, we have an unwavering dedication to our core values of Resilience, Efficiency,
eXellence, Integrity & Teamwork (REXIT).

The post Rex Insurance Meets NAICOM Minimum Capital Requirement Under NIIRA 2025 appeared first on Business Today NG.

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FULL LIST: NIIRA 2025: NAICOM Eyes Liquidation for Non-Compliant Operators

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BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—The National Insurance Commission,((NAICOM),  on Monday said only eight insurance companies are yet to be verified by the commission.

The commission disclosed this today while releasing the 43 insurance firms that met the new minimum capital requirements set up by NIIRA

According to NAICOM “The eight insurance companies submitted evidence of compliance shortly before the statutory deadline are currently undergoing final verification and regulatory review.

This, the commission said would be concluded within fourteen days.

Insurance companies not listed among the 43 verified firms include those currently undergoing final regulatory review, as well as unverified operators at risk of liquidation—such as NICON Insurance Plc; Goldlink Insurance Plc Nigerian Reinsurance; Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation ; Royal Exchange Prudential Life Plc;  Tangerine Life Insurance Limited; Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc; African Alliance Insurance Plc; Guinea Insurance Plc; Regency Alliance Insurance Plc; Staco Insurance Plc; Alliance & General Insurance; Universal Insurance Plc; emPle General Insurance Company Nigeria Limited and emPle Life Assurance Limited.

NAICOM had announced the successful completion of the twelve-month insurance sector recapitalization exercise undertaken pursuant to Section 15 and other relevant provisions of the Nigerian Insurance Industry Reform Act (NIIRA) 2025, signed into law on 31 July 2025 by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as part of his administration’s financial sector transformation agenda towards the attainment of a US$1 trillion economy by 2030.

The successful conclusion of the exercise marks a defining milestone in the transformation of Nigeria’s insurance industry and signals the beginning of a new era for insurance in the country.

Following the enactment of NIIRA 2025, the Commission commenced a structured implementation process to provide strategic oversight, ensure transparency, support operators throughout the transition, and facilitate the effective implementation of the new minimum capital requirements within the statutory compliance period.

To ensure an orderly, transparent, credible, and verifiable process, the Commission issued the Guidelines on the Implementation of Minimum Capital Requirements (MCR) for Insurance and Reinsurance Companies in Nigeria.

The Guidelines provided detailed guidance on the statutory minimum capital requirements under NIIRA 2025, eligible and ineligible capital instruments, admissible and non-admissible assets, verification and validation procedures, regulatory timelines, reporting obligations, and supervisory expectations throughout the implementation period.

The post FULL LIST: NIIRA 2025: NAICOM Eyes Liquidation for Non-Compliant Operators appeared first on Business Today NG.

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