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Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has defended her remarks on empowering women through petty trading, insisting that small businesses remain a viable means of improving livelihoods.
She made the remarks on Saturday at the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme in Lokoja, Kogi State, while also calling on Nigeria’s top entertainers to establish charitable foundations to support the less privileged.
The First Lady appealed to musicians including Davido, Burna Boy and Asake to use their wealth to assist vulnerable Nigerians, saying successful celebrities should complement government efforts through philanthropy.
She noted that while there was nothing wrong with owning luxury vehicles such as Maybachs and Rolls-Royces, entertainers could also dedicate part of their resources to helping poor people.
“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.
“Good cars are good, a Maybach is good, a Rolls-Royce is good, but still, you can help,” she said.
Oluremi Tinubu also reaffirmed her support for the Renewed Hope Initiative’s grassroots empowerment programme, explaining that it targets petty traders, including sellers of pepper, vegetables, okra, melon, akara and kuli-kuli.
“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.
According to her, these small-scale businesses deserve government support because they provide a source of income for many Nigerians.
She cited the example of an Abuja-based graduate who reportedly turned to selling akara after failing to secure paid employment.
Oluremi Tinubu said the individual later received support through an intervention that enabled him to expand his business and employ 12 workers.
“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.
Her comments come weeks after she faced criticism for suggesting that women could be empowered through grants to start businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn and producing kuli-kuli.
Critics argued that the remarks downplayed the economic challenges facing many Nigerian women.
Despite the backlash, Oluremi Tinubu maintained that the empowerment initiative would continue.
In June, she also distributed ₦50,000 grants to 2,000 petty traders during a visit to Jigawa State.
