First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has defended her widely discussed remarks on empowering women through small-scale businesses, insisting that petty traders deserve financial support and reaffirming her commitment to grassroots economic empowerment.
Speaking on Saturday during the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme in Lokoja, Kogi State, the First Lady addressed the controversy surrounding her June comments, in which she suggested that women could benefit from government grants to establish businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn and producing kuli-kuli.
Her remarks had attracted criticism from sections of the public, including the Yoruba Union, Ìgbìnmọ́ Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, which argued that the proposal diminished the economic challenges facing Nigerian women.
Responding to the backlash, Tinubu maintained her support for the Renewed Hope Initiative’s grassroots empowerment programme and expanded her appeal to successful entertainers, urging them to establish charitable foundations to assist vulnerable Nigerians.
“I want to appeal to our young ones in the entertainment industry. I have mentioned it before, and I will use Akon, a music icon who does a lot of great charity work.
“They make the Burna Boys of this world, the Asakes, all of them, Davido, we want to see you with one foundation or the other, helping the poor with your money,” she said.
The First Lady acknowledged that there was nothing wrong with owning luxury vehicles but stressed that wealthy celebrities should also contribute to improving the lives of the less privileged.
“Good cars are good, a Maybach is good, a Rolls-Royce is good, but still, you can help,” she said.
Tinubu explained that her empowerment initiative extends beyond akara sellers, covering various categories of small traders, including those who sell pepper, vegetables, okra and melon.
She noted that supporting such entrepreneurs could ease the economic burden on many families while complementing government efforts.
“The burden on the government is huge. You can still help. There are pepper sellers, there are vegetable sellers, there are okra sellers, melon sellers, akara sellers. Akara is delicious, I can tell you that,” she said.
To illustrate the impact of the programme, the First Lady recounted the story of a university graduate in Abuja who reportedly transformed his fortunes after receiving assistance.
“There was once I read an article about a young graduate who said he didn’t get a job, and he said he sells akara because he couldn’t get a job. He’s in Abuja.
“We approached him, I didn’t put my name to it, and we equipped him more. He now has 12 workers working under him, and he’s doing very, very well,” she said.
Tinubu’s original comments in June remained a subject of public debate for several weeks, with President Bola Tinubu jokingly referring to her as “Iya Alakara” during the Presidential Press Corps Dinner in Abuja.
