By Dennis Agbo

ENUGU: The member representing Enugu North/Enugu South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Chimaobi Sam Atu, has empowered media practitioners in his constituency with laptops and other working tools.

Atu, who presented the items on Friday, urged journalists and content creators to use their platforms to promote development and responsible journalism.

He spoke at the closing ceremony of a Digital Skills for Agricultural Development 2026 seminar organised as part of his constituency project to provide modern tools for agricultural extension activities.

The lawmaker also called on media practitioners to promote agriculture and raise public awareness about the dangers of using harmful and unapproved chemicals to preserve food.

He said the empowerment was aimed at equipping journalists with the tools and skills required to perform their duties effectively and contribute to societal development.

Describing journalists as key image-makers of government, Atu said the media had a significant role in shaping public opinion and influencing how people think and behave.

He urged journalists to report government policies objectively while constructively criticising policies they considered inappropriate.

“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,” he said.

Atu urged the participants to use digital platforms to encourage young people to embrace agriculture, stressing that the sector extended beyond farming to processing, preservation, marketing and technology.

He particularly cautioned against the use of unapproved chemicals in food preservation and urged journalists and content creators to educate the public on safe agricultural practices.

The lawmaker also encouraged young Nigerians to explore opportunities across the agricultural value chain and commended the Enugu State Government for creating an enabling environment for youths and investing in agriculture.

Atu further urged Nigerians to support policies aimed at improving the economy, noting that reforms could be difficult in the short term but yield long-term benefits when properly implemented.

Speaking at the programme, a lecturer at Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Dr Chidi Ezinwa, urged journalists to make agriculture more attractive to young people through sustained and constructive reporting.

“The media should create conversations around agriculture and make it more attractive. The media should change the narrative. Media should promote agriculture,” Ezinwa said.