Nigeria is gearing up for its first International Coffee Festival, with Plateau State set to host the landmark event from August 28 to 30, 2025. Organisers say the festival aims to rejuvenate Nigeria’s underdeveloped coffee industry and spotlight Plateau as a model for innovation and growth. Over 30 countries are expected to participate, with a showcase of global coffee cultures and an emphasis on expanding local understanding of coffee production, processing, and consumption.
Blessing Nanman, lead organiser of the festival, described the initiative as a national legacy project that will rotate annually across all 36 states. She highlighted that the event goes beyond beverages—it is a platform to empower youth, create jobs, and drive national progress. According to her, the festival will be a turning point for entrepreneurship and creativity across Nigeria, with Plateau taking the lead.
Participants will experience a rich lineup of activities, including hands-on workshops, coffee tastings, barista competitions, and cultural exhibitions. Training will be offered to aspiring farmers, baristas, marketers, and small business owners. Nanman revealed plans to establish 821 coffee shops across the country in the next three years, expected to generate over 10,000 jobs. Additional initiatives will support mobile coffee carts, chocolate-coffee startups, and educational centres, with trainers from Nigeria and abroad guiding participants.
The festival also intends to boost cultural pride and local consumption. Traditional Plateau delicacies such as acha and potatoes will be paired with locally brewed coffee to promote domestic appreciation and economic inclusion. Nanman emphasized the broader vision—building a unifying coffee culture that supports national development.
Organisers noted that Nigeria has lost significant revenue due to years of neglect in the coffee sector. Nanven Barko, chairman of the local organising committee, stressed the importance of creating value within the country to boost the economy and strengthen the naira. The festival will also address the shortage of professionals in the sector and improve capacity to process, market, and export coffee.
Plateau’s selection as host is no coincidence. With its fertile soil and ideal climate, the state has been recognized as a prime location for coffee cultivation. Fei-Ishaku Davou, State Chairman of the National Coffee and Tea Association of Nigeria, affirmed Plateau’s suitability for leading Nigeria’s coffee revival.
The event, to be held at Langfield in Jos, is expected to attract investors, government officials, coffee experts, and enthusiasts. According to Nanman, the initiative is well aligned with Plateau State’s youth empowerment goals, and the governor is deeply committed to creating new opportunities for young people through coffee. She concluded by saying that Plateau is not just brewing coffee—it is brewing innovation, unity, and a bold new future for Nigeria.
