The classroom was quiet as the guidance counsellor asked each final-year student to mention the course they hoped to study at the university.
"Medicine."
"Law."
"Engineering."
Each answer was welcomed with smiles and applause.
Then it was his turn.
He stood up, took a deep breath and said, "I want to study Agriculture."
The classroom fell silent before laughter broke out.
"Agriculture?" one student asked. "After all these years in school, you want to become a farmer?"
Another added, "Why not study Medicine or Law? People will respect you more."
Although he smiled, the comments stayed with him.
That evening, he told his family that Agriculture was still his first choice. His father looked surprised.
"We have worked hard to educate you. Why not choose a profession people admire?"
His mother gently asked him to reconsider, while his uncle advised him to choose another course first and leave Agriculture as a last option.
For the first time, he wondered if his dream was really worth defending. Yet one question kept coming to his mind:
How did a profession that feeds the nation become one that so many young people are ashamed to choose?
Sadly, this is not just one student's story. Across Nigeria, many young people interested in agriculture face the same doubts and discouragement. The problem is not agriculture itself but the way society sees it. Over the years, agriculture has been unfairly labelled as a profession for people with few options, while careers like Medicine, Law and Engineering are seen as symbols of success.
This negative perception is known as stigma. Stigma is an unfair label or belief that causes people to judge someone or something without understanding its true value. Because of this stigma, many students abandon their interest in agriculture, not because they lack passion, but because they fear being judged by society.
The effects of this stigma go far beyond one student sitting in a classroom. It affects thousands of young Nigerians who genuinely have an interest in agriculture but gradually lose the confidence to pursue it. Instead of choosing a course they are passionate about, many settle for careers that society considers more respectable. In the process, dreams are abandoned, talents are wasted and opportunities to contribute to the nation's agricultural sector are lost.
The people already working in agriculture are affected too. Farmers who wake up before sunrise and spend long hours producing the food that feeds the nation are often given little recognition. Many struggle with poor roads, inadequate storage facilities, rising production costs and limited access to modern farming equipment. Yet, despite their sacrifices, they are rarely celebrated in the same way as professionals in other fields. This lack of respect discourages many young people from seeing agriculture as a career worth pursuing.
The consequences extend beyond students and farmers. Every Nigerian is affected. When fewer young people are willing to enter agriculture, food production declines while the demand for food continues to increase. The result is higher food prices, greater dependence on imported food and growing concerns about food security. In the end, a stigma that begins with one profession becomes a problem that affects an entire nation.
A few months later, the student gained admission to study Agriculture. The reactions did not change. During his first semester, some old classmates called to ask if he had changed his mind. Others laughed and joked that he would soon be carrying a hoe from one farm to another. Even during family gatherings, relatives questioned his decision, insisting that he still had time to switch to another course.
One evening, after listening to another round of advice, he quietly asked his uncle, "If nobody studies Agriculture, who will produce the food we eat every day?"
The room became silent.
No one answered immediately.
His uncle finally smiled and said, "That is not the issue. Society simply respects other professions more."
That response stayed with him. It made him realise that the greatest challenge facing agriculture was not the land or the crops—it was the way people thought about the profession.
As Professor Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank and former Nigerian Minister of Agriculture, once said:
"Agriculture is a business, not a development programme."
His words remind us that agriculture is more than planting crops. It is a sector capable of creating jobs, reducing poverty, driving industrial growth and transforming economies. Unfortunately, many people still judge it through the lens of outdated stereotypes instead of the opportunities it offers today.
Changing this mindset is where the journey begins. Breaking the stigma means challenging beliefs that have existed for generations and replacing them with a better understanding of what agriculture truly represents. It means recognising that agriculture is no longer limited to hoes and cutlasses. Today, it includes agribusiness, food processing, greenhouse farming, technology, research and innovation. Around the world, young people are building successful careers in agriculture because they see opportunities where others only see hardship.If agriculture has changed with time, why are our attitudes towards it still trapped in the past?
Changing people's perception of agriculture begins with changing the story we tell about it. For too long, agriculture has been presented as a profession of hardship instead of opportunity. Whenever many people hear the word farmer, they imagine an elderly man with a hoe working under the hot sun. While that picture reflects the reality of some farmers, it does not represent the full story of agriculture today.
Modern agriculture has moved beyond traditional farming. It now includes agribusiness, food processing, mechanised farming, greenhouse technology, livestock production, fish farming, agricultural research, food packaging, marketing and export. Across Nigeria and other African countries, young entrepreneurs are proving that agriculture is no longer just about producing food; it is also about creating wealth, solving problems and providing employment. This is the image that should be promoted if more young people are to see agriculture as a profession with dignity and a future.
Rebranding agriculture also starts at home. Parents should encourage their children to pursue careers based on their passion and abilities rather than public opinion. Schools should expose students to the many opportunities in agriculture through practical learning, career talks and educational visits to successful farms and agribusinesses. The media should tell more stories of young Nigerians who are succeeding in agriculture instead of focusing only on food shortages and farmers' struggles. When people repeatedly see success stories, their perception gradually begins to change.
Can we truly expect young people to embrace agriculture when many of the challenges facing the sector remain unresolved?
Changing the mindset alone is not enough. Government also has a crucial role to play. It is difficult to convince young people that agriculture has a bright future when many farmers still struggle with poor roads, insecurity, expensive farm inputs and inadequate access to modern machinery. Tractors, harvesters and irrigation equipment remain beyond the reach of many farmers because of their high
cost, while import duties on agricultural equipment make mechanisation even more difficult. In many rural communities, poor electricity and inadequate storage facilities lead to heavy post-harvest losses, discouraging both farmers and investors.
These challenges do more than reduce agricultural productivity; they reinforce the stigma. When young people see farmers battling the same problems year after year with little support, they begin to believe that agriculture is a profession filled with frustration rather than opportunity. This perception will continue unless practical steps are taken to improve the sector.
As Professor Akinwumi Adesina rightly said,
"Agriculture is the new oil."
This statement is more than a slogan. It is a reminder that Nigeria has the resources to build a strong economy through agriculture if the sector receives the attention, investment and policies it deserves. Supporting agriculture is not simply about helping farmers; it is about strengthening food security, creating employment and securing the nation's future.
Breaking the stigma surrounding agriculture requires a collective effort. Government cannot do it alone, and neither can farmers. Parents, teachers, schools, the media, private organisations and young people all have important roles to play. Every stakeholder must begin to see agriculture not as a profession of last resort, but as one that deserves respect, investment and support.
Government should make agricultural loans more accessible, reduce unnecessary import duties on farm machinery, improve rural roads, provide better storage facilities and invest in agricultural research and innovation. Schools should encourage practical agricultural education instead of limiting students to classroom theory. Parents should support children who have genuine interest in agriculture rather than forcing them into careers they do not love. The media should continue to highlight stories of young Nigerians who are transforming agriculture through creativity and technology. When all these efforts come together, the image of agriculture will gradually begin to change.
Several years later, the young boy who was once laughed at for choosing Agriculture returned to his community—not as the confused secondary school student people doubted, but as the founder of a successful agribusiness. What began as a dream many people looked down on had grown into a thriving enterprise that supplied fresh vegetables and grains to markets, hotels and supermarkets. His business employed young graduates, partnered with local farmers and trained secondary school students who wanted to learn modern farming techniques.
The same neighbours who once questioned his decision now invited him to speak to their children about career choices. His former school honoured him during Career Day, where he stood before another group of final-year students. This time, when he introduced himself as an agricultural entrepreneur, the classroom was filled with applause instead of laughter. The dream that many had dismissed had become a source of hope for others.
His story reminds us that the greatest obstacle to agriculture is not the profession itself but the negative perception attached to it. When we encourage young people instead of discouraging them, when we invest in agriculture instead of neglecting it, and when we recognise the value of those who feed the nation, we create opportunities not only for individuals but for Nigeria as a whole.
If one young person's decision to believe in agriculture could change so many lives, imagine what Nigeria could become if thousands of young people were given the same encouragement.
As the African proverb says, "Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one person can embrace it alone." In the same way, breaking the stigma surrounding agriculture is a responsibility we all share. Only by working together can we build a generation that sees agriculture not as a symbol of failure, but as a profession of dignity, innovation and hope.
