• Donates laptops, cameras, drones, other communication gadgets to participants
• Urges media to make agriculture a regular subject of public-interest reporting
The member representing Enugu North/Enugu South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chimaobi Sam Atu, has called on journalists, content creators and young communication professionals to join the campaign against dangerous agricultural practices, particularly the use of inappropriate chemicals to preserve food and artificially accelerate the ripening of fruits.
Atu made the call during the “Digital Skills for Agricultural Development 2026” training programme organised as part of his constituency intervention, urging media practitioners to use their platforms to promote agriculture, educate the public on food safety and expose practices capable of endangering public health.
The lawmaker said the training was designed around two major objectives: promoting agriculture through effective communication and creating awareness about the dangers associated with unsafe food-preservation practices.
According to him, agriculture should no longer be reduced to farming alone, as the sector encompasses food production, processing, preservation, distribution, marketing and the entire agricultural value chain.
He urged journalists to make agriculture a regular subject of public-interest reporting rather than concentrating predominantly on politics and social events.
Atu said journalists should also report the opportunities, challenges and innovations within the agricultural sector while drawing attention to practices that could threaten consumers.
He said the media had a critical role to play in changing the narrative around agriculture and encouraging young Nigerians to see the sector as a viable area for economic participation and wealth creation.
The lawmaker said the second objective of the training was particularly important because agricultural development would have little meaning if the food produced was unsafe for consumption.
He expressed concern over the use of dangerous or inappropriate substances by some food sellers and distributors for preservation and artificial ripening, stressing that such practices could expose unsuspecting consumers to serious health risks.
Atu said the programme was therefore designed to promote safer agricultural practices, proper food handling and responsible methods of preserving agricultural products.
“We cannot promote agriculture while ignoring the safety of the food reaching our tables,” he said.
He urged journalists and content creators to use their platforms to educate Nigerians about the potential dangers of using unapproved chemicals in food preservation and encourage safer alternatives.
“We want to urge the journalists and content creators to use their channels to create awareness about the need for increased agriculture and to discourage the use of harmful chemicals to preserve food products,” he said.
Atu said the training brought together participants from the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), students of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), students of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), as well as young people from the Enugu North/Enugu South Federal Constituency.
He explained that the objective was to equip young people and communication practitioners with knowledge and practical skills that could enable them to create meaningful impact in their communities.
As part of the intervention, participants were supported with communication gadgets and other materials to facilitate practical learning, content creation and professional development.
The equipment provided included cameras, drones, camera gimbals, microphones, laptops and other relevant communication materials.
At the closing ceremony of the training, where laptops were presented to media practitioners, Atu described journalists as “the main media” and image-makers of government, stressing the significant influence of the media in shaping public opinion and influencing how people think and behave.
He urged the beneficiaries to deploy the equipment responsibly to promote issues capable of producing positive changes in society.
“The masses believe in the media and I know that you will reshape the reasoning of our people in a good direction and help to announce the government policies that are right. The ones that are not right, you can criticise with respect,” Atu said.
The lawmaker urged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the equipment and skills acquired, particularly in promoting agriculture, food safety, preservation and other areas capable of contributing to economic development.
He also called on young Nigerians to take agriculture seriously, noting that opportunities abound across the sector’s value chain and that young people could become productive participants through the application of knowledge, technology and innovation.
Atu commended the Enugu State Government, led by Governor Peter Mbah, for creating what he described as an enabling environment for young people and investing in agriculture.
He also acknowledged agricultural initiatives of the President Bola Tinubu administration, saying federal incentives and state-level support could help stimulate greater participation in the sector and strengthen food security.
The lawmaker, however, stressed that government policies alone could not produce sustainable development without individual responsibility and citizens’ willingness to contribute positively to society.
He called on Nigerians to support policies designed to improve the economy, noting that some reforms could be difficult in the short term but could deliver long-term benefits when properly implemented.
Atu also urged citizens to pray for their leaders and contribute positively to society rather than merely criticising those in authority.
“If you want a good society, if you want a sustainable society, it starts from us. Anywhere you find yourself, try to do good. Anywhere you find yourself, try to sacrifice for something,” he said.
He maintained that sustainable prosperity could only be achieved when society itself becomes stronger and healthier, with individuals taking responsibility for the wellbeing and development of their communities.
Atu described the initiative as part of his continuing commitment to youth development, stressing that the programme was not an isolated intervention.
According to him, it was the eighth training and empowerment programme organised for young people in different areas, reflecting his belief that empowerment should go beyond the distribution of material items.
He said genuine empowerment should equip beneficiaries with the knowledge and tools required to create opportunities for themselves and contribute meaningfully to society.
The lawmaker expressed confidence that the participants would put the training, skills and communication equipment to productive use by creating impactful content, promoting agriculture, raising awareness about food safety and communicating development initiatives across Enugu State and beyond.
