An agriculturist, Alhaji Sani Friday Nnaji, weekend, called on journalists in Nsukka, Enugu State, to create more awareness on the agricultural potentials of Nsukka zone to make youths embrace the sector for wealth and job creation.
Alhaji Nnaji, a Zamfara-based multi-sectoral farmer, stated this during a get-together organised by Nsukka Journalists Foundation held at Nsukka. According to him, “There are no more white-collar jobs. Many Nsukka youths are idle because they fail to realise that agriculture is the best sector to create wealth and jobs. We have enough arable land which is unexploited. The Central Bank of Nigeria has provided funds which our youths can tap into and gainfully employ themselves. This is why I have acquired over 250 hectares of land in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area for cocoanut farming. It is also amazing that Nsukka soil is favourable to cotton plantation, more than even what is obtainable in the north. I carried out a soil texture analysis, and discovered that we can become the hub of cotton farming in Nigeria. It is the function of Nsukka journalists to create this awareness.”
Speaking also, a former chief economic adviser to president of Nigeria, Prof Osita Ogbu, urged journalists of Nsukka extraction to live up to the tenets of the profession by making government accountable to the people.
According to him, it was only by interrogating government policies and programmes that the true essence of the profession would be felt by the people. In his words, “Journalists should avoid being a willing tool in the hands of politicians. Nsukka is blessed with rich human and natural endowments, and it is the role of the media to identify and draw government’s attention to such areas for exploitation and societal development. You can use your calling to influence building of libraries and institution of scholarships for Nsukka youths.”
Mr Chijioke Amu Nnadi, the chairman of the foundation, said the association was formed to add values to Nsukka through holding political office-holders accountable for the betterment of Nsukka people.
He said, “Our objectives are the development, progress and prosperity of Nsukka socio-cultural zone; ensuring free flow of information on community, cultural and development issues; building beneficial linkages between the government and journalists of Nsukka extraction; providing recognition of excellence for distinguished Nsukka sons and daughters; providing support for media projects as may be undertaken by members, and intervening in crises within Nsukka socio-cultural and geo-political zone, as well as publishing news and periodicals on subject matters within its purview.”
The event featured presentation of certificates to the patrons of the foundation. Among the patrons honoured are the president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; Prof Osita Ogbu, Dr Sally Adukwu-Bolujoko, Alhaji Sani Friday Nnaji, Sir Ofodile Okafor (SAN), Dr Charles Ugwu-Oju, and Dr Camellus Ezeugwu.
