First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has drawn mixed reactions on social media after encouraging Nigerians to consider low-capital businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli as a means of earning a living.
Speaking after the Renewed Hope Initiative’s second-quarter meeting with wives of state governors at the State House in Abuja, Tinubu said the programme provides grants not loans to help vulnerable Nigerians start small businesses.
“We’re trying to give hope, and to start akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kuli-kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant,” she said, adding that the initiative was designed to encourage entrepreneurship and self-reliance.
The First Lady also highlighted other interventions under the Renewed Hope Initiative, including a N2 billion donation to combat tuberculosis, N1 billion for breast cancer interventions, N500 million to address malnutrition, as well as support for scholarships, ICT training, agriculture and social investment programmes.
She urged Nigerians not to lose hope despite the country’s economic challenges, saying the Renewed Hope Agenda is intended to restore optimism and improve citizens’ livelihoods.
Her remarks, however, sparked criticism on social media, with some users arguing that the comments underestimated the scale of the country’s economic difficulties. Others questioned whether promoting small-scale businesses adequately addressed concerns over unemployment, inflation and the rising cost of living.
Some users defended the First Lady, insisting there is dignity in honest work and noting that businesses such as akara and roasted corn sales have helped many Nigerians build sustainable livelihoods over the years.
Others took a middle ground, arguing that while there is nothing wrong with encouraging entrepreneurship, many Nigerians are seeking broader economic reforms, more jobs and improved living conditions alongside support for small businesses.
