The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has sparked widespread debate after encouraging Nigerians to consider small-scale businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli as viable sources of income, saying they require little capital to start.
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Mrs Tinubu made the remarks while addressing State House Correspondents following the second-quarter meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative with the wives of state governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Speaking on the initiative’s efforts to support vulnerable Nigerians, the First Lady explained that beneficiaries receive grants rather than loans to help them establish small businesses.
“We’re trying to give hope, and to start an akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or even making kuli-kuli doesn’t require much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant,” she said.
She added that the Renewed Hope Initiative has continued to support Nigerians through interventions in healthcare, agriculture, education, ICT training, scholarships and social investment programmes.
According to her, the initiative donated ₦2 billion to combat tuberculosis, ₦1 billion for breast cancer interventions and ₦500 million to address malnutrition.
“I remember giving for TB. When I heard there were so many TB cases, I gave ₦2 billion. To breast cancer, I gave ₦1 billion. For food malnutrition, I gave half a billion. These are some of the things we’ve been doing to ensure the government’s efforts positively impact Nigerians,” she stated.
The First Lady also urged Nigerians not to lose hope despite the country’s economic challenges, saying the Renewed Hope Agenda is aimed at restoring optimism among citizens.
“The narrative has changed and has challenged the average Nigerian, whereas the average person is supposed to have hope. We have to renew our hope, and that’s the message I have for Nigerians,” she said.
However, her comments quickly generated mixed reactions on social media.
Several critics argued that the remarks reflected a disconnect between the country’s leadership and the economic realities confronting many Nigerians. Some users maintained that while there is dignity in small-scale businesses, citizens are demanding broader economic reforms, job creation and lower living costs rather than advice on survival businesses.
Others defended the First Lady, describing her comments as practical encouragement for entrepreneurship. They noted that businesses such as akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli have provided sustainable livelihoods for many Nigerians over the years and can be expanded into profitable ventures.
The comments have continued to fuel conversations online, highlighting differing opinions on the government’s approach to addressing Nigeria’s current economic challenges.
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