Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has defended her widely criticised remarks about empowering women through small-scale businesses, insisting that petty trading remains a practical way to lift many families out of poverty.
Speaking on Saturday at the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme in Lokoja, Kogi State, Tinubu said there was nothing wrong with supporting women who earn a living by selling everyday food items.
Her comments follow public backlash over remarks she made in June, when she suggested that government grants could help women start businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn and producing kuli-kuli.
The statement drew criticism from many Nigerians, including the Yoruba Union, Ìgbìnmọ́ Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, which argued that the proposal failed to address the economic realities facing women.
Addressing the controversy, the First Lady reaffirmed her commitment to the Renewed Hope Initiative’s grassroots empowerment programme, saying traders such as pepper sellers, vegetable vendors, okra and melon sellers, as well as akara and kuli-kuli producers, deserve financial support.
She also appealed to some of Nigeria’s biggest music stars to use their wealth to support vulnerable Nigerians through charitable foundations.
“I want to appeal to our young people in the entertainment industry,” she said. “Akon has done a lot through charity. We want to see the Burna Boys, the Asakes, Davido and others establish foundations to help the poor.”
Tinubu acknowledged that celebrities have every right to enjoy their success but encouraged them to give back to society.
“There’s nothing wrong with owning a Maybach or a Rolls-Royce, but you can still help people,” she said.
The First Lady cited the example of an Abuja-based graduate who reportedly turned to selling akara after failing to secure employment.
According to her, the man later received support through an initiative linked to her office.
“We equipped him with what he needed, and today he has 12 people working for him and is doing very well,” she said.
Tinubu’s original “akara” remarks have continued to spark debate in recent weeks, with President Bola Tinubu jokingly referring to her as “Iya Alakara” during the Presidential Press Corps Dinner in Abuja.
Despite the criticism, she has maintained that the programme will continue. In June, she distributed ₦50,000 grants to 2,000 petty traders during a visit to Jigawa State as part of the initiative.
