By Paul Joseph
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has defended her comments encouraging low-income Nigerians to embrace small-scale businesses, insisting the Federal Government’s empowerment initiative extends beyond akara sellers to support various petty traders.
Mrs. Tinubu spoke during an official engagement in Jigawa State on Monday, following criticism that trailed remarks she made while interacting with journalists in Abuja on June 25.
Her earlier comments, which encouraged Nigerians to consider businesses such as akara frying, roasted corn selling, kuli-kuli production and other forms of petty trading, sparked widespread debate, with some describing the advice as insensitive while others argued that small businesses remain vital to the informal economy.
Responding to the criticism, the First Lady said the empowerment programme was designed to support ordinary Nigerians at the grassroots level and covers a wide range of petty traders.
According to her, beneficiaries include tomato sellers, pepper vendors, vegetable sellers, roasted corn sellers and others involved in local food businesses.
She disclosed that the government had provided ₦100 million in grants to empower 2,000 petty traders, with each beneficiary receiving ₦50,000 to improve and sustain their businesses.
“I’ve told Her Excellency that we’ve already given, donated about N100 million to her to use to empower 2,000 petty traders.
“And I know they’ve been talking that I said akara. It’s not only akara, we also have tomato sellers. We have boole, and those also selling pepper, selling vegetables for us in the market.
“We will continue to empower them and add to their resources so that their trade can really be sustainable,” she said.
Mrs. Tinubu maintained that the criticism would not deter the government from supporting grassroots businesses, stressing that those benefiting from the programme appreciated the intervention.
“I know all those people who are affected; they do appreciate it. And we are not intimidated by all those wrong reports. But we are forging ahead and making sure that our people are well cared for,” she stated.
The First Lady also urged Nigerian youths to explore opportunities beyond the oil sector, saying the country has abundant resources that remain largely untapped.
She encouraged young people to embrace entrepreneurship and seek different avenues for creating wealth and attaining economic independence.
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