Hon. Chimaobi Sam Atu, member representing Enugu North/Enugu South Federal Constituency of Enugu State in the House of Representatives, has called for increased youth participation in agriculture, describing the sector as a viable business capable of contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economic development.

Atu made the call on Thursday in Enugu while speaking at a Training and Empowerment Programme on Digital Skills for Safe Agricultural Activities in the South-East, where journalists, media practitioners and other stakeholders were trained on agricultural communication, food safety and responsible reporting.

The lawmaker, who sponsored the programme, said the initiative was driven by the need to address growing concerns over unsafe agricultural production and food-preservation practices, while using communication to encourage Nigerians, particularly young people, to take agriculture seriously.

He said the programme was designed around two major objectives: promoting agriculture through effective communication and creating awareness about dangerous practices in the preservation and handling of food.

Atu stressed that agriculture should no longer be perceived merely as farming, noting that the sector encompasses food production, processing, preservation, distribution, marketing and other activities across the agricultural value chain.

“Agriculture can be promoted through communication, telling people what they are supposed to do and keeping them aware,” he said.

The lawmaker urged media practitioners and content creators to use their platforms to change the narrative around agriculture and demonstrate the opportunities available in the sector.

He particularly appealed to young Nigerians to see agriculture as a serious business rather than an occupation reserved for older people, the rural population or those without formal education.

According to him, agriculture is a major business globally, and Nigeria must encourage its young population to invest in the sector if the country is to achieve sustainable economic growth.

Atu raises concern over unsafe food practices

The lawmaker also expressed concern over the use of harmful substances in the production and preservation of food, warning that the desire to make quick profits could expose consumers to serious health risks.

He said the training was partly organised to create awareness about practices involving the inappropriate use of chemicals and other substances in preserving agricultural produce.

Atu argued that Nigerians must become more conscious of the methods used to produce and preserve the food they consume.

He noted that producing agricultural commodities alone was not sufficient, stressing that attention must also be paid to how such products are processed, preserved and eventually brought to consumers.

“We need to raise serious awareness about the need for our people, particularly young people, to take agriculture and agricultural activities seriously,” he said.

He also encouraged Nigerians to work collectively towards producing more of what they consume, arguing that safer local production would help reduce dependence on questionable food products and preservation methods.

Media as catalyst for agricultural development

Atu placed particular emphasis on the role of communication in transforming public perception of agriculture.

He said the media could help Nigerians understand that agriculture offers opportunities beyond traditional farming, including processing, marketing, technology, logistics and other areas of the value chain.

His position was reinforced by the speakers at the programme, who challenged journalists to give agriculture greater prominence in their reports.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Chidi Ezinwa, a lecturer at the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), observed that agriculture remains significantly underreported in Nigerian media and urged journalists to produce more agricultural stories across mainstream and digital platforms.

Ezinwa said the media had the power to make agriculture attractive to young people by showcasing successful farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs and opportunities within the sector.

He also challenged journalists to incorporate agricultural issues into political reporting by questioning political actors about their policies and plans for the sector.

Food safety and public health

Another speaker, The Head of Department of Mass Communication, ESUT, Dr. Maxwell Ngene, urged journalists to adopt watchdog journalism in reporting agriculture and food safety.

Ngene said journalists have a social responsibility to protect the public by investigating practices capable of causing food poisoning, disease and premature death.

He encouraged reporters to trace food through the entire chain, from the farm to the consumer’s table, while questioning producers, processors, distributors and regulators.

Dr. Samson Alugwu of the Department of Food and Nutrition, ESUT, explained the scientific processes behind food spoilage and warned against the misuse of chemicals in food preservation.

He highlighted factors such as enzymes, moisture, temperature and microorganisms as important contributors to food deterioration, stressing the need for proper preservation techniques.

NUJ Chairman backs initiative

The Enugu State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Obinna Ogbuka, commended Atu for organising the programme and described the calibre of resource persons assembled for the training as evidence of the seriousness attached to the initiative.

Ogbuka said the journalists were prepared to learn from the experts and, more importantly, take the knowledge gained back to society.

He said the issue of unsafe food preservation had created an additional responsibility for journalists, who must use their profession to protect the public interest.

According to him, journalists should not stop at acquiring knowledge but must ensure that the information is effectively communicated to the wider society.

“We have also a responsibility to pass this message across,” Ogbuka said, adding that journalists must use their platforms to help make society better.

He pledged that members of the union would pay close attention to the presentations and use the knowledge acquired to set an agenda that would promote public safety and improve society.

A call for a new agricultural narrative

Atu said the ultimate objective of the initiative was to ensure that participants leave the programme with practical knowledge they could deploy in educating their communities and promoting safer agricultural practices.

He also commended government efforts and investments in agriculture, education and health, noting that sustained investment in these areas was essential to Nigeria’s development.

The lawmaker urged participants to see themselves as partners in building a safer and more productive agricultural sector, stressing that the responsibility for changing the country’s agricultural narrative rests not only with government but also with citizens, farmers, professionals and the media.

He expressed optimism that the training would generate more agricultural content, improve public awareness and encourage young Nigerians to view agriculture as a profitable and sustainable career and business opportunity.