Coffee enthusiasts, farmers, marketers and other stakeholders gathered in Jos on Friday for the Lingzhi Coffee Hangout, where participants were urged to embrace coffee farming and other opportunities in the coffee value chain as a pathway to job creation and economic growth.
The event, organised by Lingzhi Global at Secretariat Junction (Under Bridge), Jos, focused on creating awareness about the growing opportunities in coffee production, processing, marketing and distribution.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Lingzhi Global, Mrs. Blessing Nanman, said the initiative was aimed at changing the negative perception about coffee and encouraging more Nigerians to invest in the sector.
“We are bringing coffee back, but this time around a healthy coffee. There is security in coffee, there is job creation in coffee,” she said.
According to her, Lingzhi Coffee is not just a beverage but a healthy product designed to meet different health needs while creating demand for locally produced coffee.
Nanman said the company’s vision is to create jobs and improve livelihoods by expanding opportunities across the coffee value chain.
“If you cannot farm coffee, you can roast coffee. If you cannot roast coffee, you can be a coffee barista. If you cannot be a coffee barista, be a marketer,” she said.
She disclosed that Lingzhi Global has served more than 20 million cups of coffee in less than one year, increased its workforce from about 50 to over 100 employees, and built a nationwide network of distributors.
Nanman also assured coffee farmers of a ready market for their produce, saying the company has helped eliminate the challenge of unsold harvests.
Also speaking, the General Manager of the Plateau State Road Maintenance Agency, Engr. Luka Davou, described the coffee hangout as a bold initiative that would transform the coffee industry.
He urged farmers and youths to invest in coffee cultivation, describing it as a profitable long-term venture capable of creating jobs and improving livelihoods.
A coffee farmer from Jos South, Mrs. Margaret Ishaku Fei, said the coffee business in Plateau had witnessed a remarkable turnaround since Lingzhi Global hosted the Coffee Festival International Nigeria.
“Before, we had coffee but no buyers. Many people even cut down their coffee plantations. Today, buyers are looking for our coffee and farmers are making more money,” she said, while calling on government and private organisations to support coffee farmers with funding and other incentives.
