crustlikereporters

One early morning, the sun was shining gently over a quiet neighborhood as 35-year-old Ada stepped out of her small home with a smile. She was a mother of two  full of hope and determination. The compound was neat and tidy,flowers lined the walkway, and birds were singing in the fresh air. Her children laughed as they got ready for school, carrying water bottles and healthy homemade meals. Every morning, Ada made small but important choices washing hands before meals, serving balanced food, encouraging exercise, drinking clean water, sleeping early, and keeping the surroundings free from dirt and stagnant water. To her, these simple habits were the first step to staying healthy.

Health experts often say prevention is better than cure, and Ada's family showed exactly why. By going for regular medical check-ups, making sure the children got their immunizations, keeping good hygiene, and avoiding unhealthy foods, they reduced their chances of getting preventable diseases like malaria, typhoid, cholera, and high blood pressures.

Malaria is one of the most common sickness around us,it is cause by a parasite called plasmodium which is transmitted to human through the bite of an infected mosquito and insect.

The effect of malaria is high fever, headache,nausea and vomiting.but it can be prevented by sleeping under insecticide treated mosquito nets, wearing long sleeved clothing, especially at nigh and keeping the environment neat .

 These everyday choices helped keep the family healthy and out of hospital beds.

Still, many families ignore these simple habits. Poor hygiene, unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, self-medication, and waiting too long before seeing a doctor often lead to serious illnesses. Because of this, hospitals get crowded, families spend a lot of money on treatment, children miss school, adults lose income, and in some cases, diseases that could have been prevented even take lives.

Even though people have a responsibility to take care of their health, the government also has an important role to play. Poor waste management, limited access to clean water, weak primary healthcare services, poor sanitation, and not enough health education make it hard for many families to go for medical check up and stay healthy. In some communities, people have no choice but to drink unsafe water or travel far before getting medical help.which is not suppose to be so.if the government have provided good healthcare center,clean water and  proper sanitation for the communities.

It would have reduced the number of families ending up in hospital, the government needs to invest in quality healthcare, provide clean water and proper sanitation, improve environmental sanitation, strengthen primary healthcare centres, organize regular public health awareness campaigns, and make preventive healthcare affordable and easy to access. Communities should also join in clean-up exercises and encourage healthy living.

At the end of the day, keeping families out of hospital walls does not come down to one big decision, but to many small daily choices. When individuals, communities, and the government all work together, healthier families become possible, hospitals become less crowded, and society becomes stronger. Every healthy choice made today is an investment in a healthier tomorrow.

   Every dose count. every child deserves a healthy future. 

     Every child deserves the chance to grow up healthy, strong, and full of hope. One of the simplest and most effective ways to protect your child is by ensuring the receive every recommended vaccine on time. Immunization is an essential, cost effective strategy to reduce childhood illness and death which saves an estimated two to three million lives each year.

Despite the availability of free routine immunization services in many health facilities across Nigeria, many children do not complete the recommended vaccination schedule. Some parents begin the process but fail to return for all the doses because of inadequate knowledge, misinformation, fear of side effects, religious or cultural misconceptions or competing family responsibilities. 

    Starting your child immunization is an important first step, BUT COMPLETING EVERY SCHEDULED THOSE IS WHAT PROVIDES FULL PROTECTION. 

       MESSAGE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 

• this message is designed to increase the number of children who complete the full routine by promoting positive behavior change among parents and caregivers. 

• developing positive attitude towards routine and childhood immunization 

• encourage parents within the communities to complete their child immunization schedules. 

 Parents, caregivers, guardians, pregnant women, fathers, healthcare workers community leaders, parents of children aged 0 -59 months, mother of newborns comma and infants, anyone responsible for the care of young children should complete every childhood immunization according to national schedule. If a dose is missed visit the nearest healthcare facility immediately like teaching hospitals, government primary health care centres, an accredited private health facilities that provide routine immunization services, because every means those leaves a child vulnerable to preventable diseases that may affect their health, education and future. 

      CALL TO ACTION 

COMPLETE EVERY VACCINE. KEEP EVERY APPOINTMENT. 

Do not stop after the first vaccine keep every appointment for my complete every dose, and ensure your child receives the full protection against vaccine preventable diseases. Visit the nearest health facility today and give your child a healthy life because every dose count and every child matters. 

Every missed vaccine represent a mixed opportunity to protect a child. Childhood immunization is more than just a medical intervention, it is an investment in human development by ensuring that every child receives every vaccine at the right time, parents and caregivers build healthier families, stronger community is more prosperous nation. 

    EVERY DOSE COUNT. EVERY CHILD MATTERS. EVERY FUTURE BEGINS WITH IMMUNIZATION. 

Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a major public health concern worldwide despite significant advances in prevention and treatment. Many new HIV infections occur because of misinformation, stigma, discrimination, and a lack of open discussion about the disease. Going beyond the silence means encouraging honest conversations about HIV and providing accurate education to individuals, families, schools, and communities. Through effective communication and education, people can make informed decisions that reduce the spread of HIV.

The sight of empty desks in a classroom should concern every member of the community. Each vacant seat represents more than an absent student—it represents a missed lesson, a missed opportunity, and possibly a brighter future slipping away. While some absences are unavoidable, frequent absenteeism has become a growing challenge that demands the attention of parents, educators, community leaders, and government authorities.

Regular school attendance is the foundation of quality education. Students who attend school consistently are more likely to understand their lessons, perform well in examinations, and develop the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in life. In contrast, those who miss classes regularly often struggle academically, lose confidence, and face a greater risk of dropping out of school. The consequences extend beyond the classroom, affecting families, communities, and the nation’s future workforce.

Many factors contribute to poor school attendance. Some children stay home because their families cannot afford transportation, uniforms, or learning materials. Others are kept out of school because of illness, insecurity, child labour, or family responsibilities. In some cases, students lose interest in learning due to bullying, lack of motivation, or an unconducive school environment. Whatever the reason, every barrier to education deserves serious attention and practical solutions.

Addressing this issue requires a collective effort. Parents and guardians must make education a daily priority by ensuring their children attend school consistently and punctually. Teachers should create welcoming and engaging classrooms that encourage students to learn. Community leaders, religious institutions, and civil society organizations can raise awareness about the importance of education and support vulnerable families. Government agencies must also provide safe schools, adequate facilities, qualified teachers, and policies that promote access to education for every child.

Education is not merely a personal achievement; it is an investment in society. Children who receive a quality education are more likely to become responsible citizens, skilled professionals, and productive contributors to national development. Conversely, every child left behind represents lost potential that communities can scarcely afford.

Empty classrooms today can lead to lost opportunities tomorrow. Ensuring that every child is present in school is not solely the responsibility of parents or teachers—it is a shared responsibility for the entire community. By working together to remove the obstacles that keep children out of school, we can transform empty classrooms into centres of learning, hope, and opportunity.

                 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.