The maiden edition of the Jos Women in Coffee Business Conference has concluded in Jos, Plateau State, with stakeholders advocating increased investment in the coffee value chain as a catalyst for women’s empowerment, job creation, and sustainable economic growth.

Organised by Lingzhi Global Nigeria Limited, the conference brought together women entrepreneurs, coffee farmers, processors, marketers, investors, and other industry stakeholders to explore opportunities within the coffee sector while fostering stronger collaboration across the value chain.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer and Visionary Leader of Lingzhi Global Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Blessing Nanman, popularly known as the Apostle of Wealth, said the conference was created to expose women to the enormous opportunities available in the coffee industry. She described coffee as one of the world’s most consumed commodities with vast potential for entrepreneurship, wealth creation, skills development, and community advancement.

Mrs. Nanman explained that although women account for nearly 70 percent of the global workforce in the coffee industry, many remain unaware of the significant role they play and the opportunities available to them. She urged Plateau women to embrace every aspect of the coffee value chain—from cultivation and harvesting to processing, roasting, branding, marketing, and leadership—while emphasizing the need to strengthen partnerships among farmers, processors, marketers, and off-takers to ensure sustainable production and profitability.

Project Leader of the Tonyi Wiggins Centre for Leadership and Mentoring Initiative, Toyin Wiggins, described the conference as an eye-opening platform that promotes financial independence through coffee entrepreneurship. He expressed interest in venturing into coffee farming and commended Mrs. Nanman for her passion, expertise, and commitment to advancing Nigeria’s coffee industry.

Participants also shared testimonies of the impact of Lingzhi Global’s initiatives. Regina Pam praised the organisation for equipping women with entrepreneurial knowledge, leadership skills, and economic opportunities, encouraging more women to take advantage of its programmes to become financially independent and influential within their communities.

Another beneficiary, Helen Gontur Malo, recounted how joining Lingzhi Global transformed her life socially and economically. She revealed that shortly after becoming a member, she qualified for an electric tricycle and has since benefited from business training and improved wellbeing through the company’s coffee products.

Malo encouraged women and young people to explore opportunities within the coffee value chain, describing it as a viable pathway to job creation, improved livelihoods, and local economic development. She also appealed to the Plateau State Government to invest in coffee production, noting that Plateau produces some of the finest coffee in the world and possesses the potential to become a leading coffee hub with the right support.

A major highlight of the conference was the presentation of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award to Mrs. Blessing Nenman in recognition of her outstanding contributions to entrepreneurship, women’s empowerment, and the growth of Nigeria’s coffee industry. The award, conferred by the Change Makers Impact Award, was presented by Toyin Wiggins, who applauded her visionary leadership, mentorship, and unwavering commitment to transforming lives through innovation and economic empowerment.

The conference ended with renewed calls for stronger collaboration among farmers, processors, marketers, investors, development partners, and government agencies to unlock the full potential of Plateau State’s coffee industry while creating greater opportunities for women across every stage of the coffee value chain.

An All Progressives Congress, APC, chieftain in Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, has warned that the continued attacks by President Bola Tinubu’s aides on leaders of the Catholic Church could alienate millions of Christian voters and undermine the President’s chances of securing a second term in 2027.

Vatsa accused presidential spokespersons Daniel Bwala and Bayo Onanuga of escalating tensions with the Christian community through what he described as unwarranted attacks on the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, CBCN, and Cardinal John Onaiyekan following the bishops’ comments on poverty, hardship and insecurity in the country.

The former Niger State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism said the remarks by the presidential aides were politically damaging and capable of deepening the perception that the Tinubu administration was insensitive to the concerns of Christians, especially after the controversy that trailed the Muslim-Muslim presidential ticket.

In a statement issued in Minna on Wednesday, Vatsa said the Presidency should have reflected on the issues raised by the bishops instead of allowing its spokespersons to engage in public attacks against respected religious leaders.

According to him, the Catholic bishops merely discharged their moral and spiritual responsibility by drawing the government’s attention to the worsening living conditions of Nigerians, insisting that their intervention was neither political nor motivated by personal interests.

“Their comments and attacks on these highly respected Christian leaders will surely hurt the President in his re-election bid,” Vatsa said.

He added that the bishops did not visit the Presidential Villa to seek contracts, appointments or political patronage but to speak on behalf of millions of Nigerians who could no longer afford three square meals, families devastated by insecurity and kidnapping, and citizens whose livelihoods had been eroded by the harsh economic situation.

Vatsa maintained that rather than discredit the bishops, the government should address the substance of their concerns, arguing that hunger, poverty and insecurity remained everyday realities across many parts of the country.

” Anybody who says there is no extreme hunger and poverty in the country today is carrying the curse of Nigerians on his head. Nigerians are dying every day from hunger and hardship,” he stated.

He further urged Bwala and Onanuga to show greater respect for the Christian faith and the Catholic Church, warning that persistent attacks on prominent Christian leaders could further widen the trust deficit between the government and many Christian faithful.

The APC chieftain insisted that anyone claiming there was no widespread hardship in Nigeria was detached from the realities facing ordinary citizens, stressing that religious leaders had a duty to speak for the voiceless and hold leaders accountable.

He also challenged the presidential aides to tour states such as Borno and Niger to witness firsthand the impact of insecurity, displacement and economic hardship on citizens, instead of dismissing the concerns expressed by the bishops.

Vatsa concluded that the administration would earn greater public confidence by listening to constructive criticism and addressing the country’s economic and security challenges rather than attacking those who speak out on behalf of suffering Nigerians.