By Paul Joseph
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged leading Nigerian music stars, including Davido, Burna Boy and Asake, to establish charitable foundations that will support poor Nigerians engaged in small-scale businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn and producing kuli-kuli.
Speaking during the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme in Lokoja, Kogi State, the First Lady said celebrities should complement their success with acts of philanthropy aimed at empowering vulnerable citizens and creating sustainable livelihoods.
She noted that while there is nothing wrong with owning luxury vehicles such as Maybachs and Rolls-Royces, wealthy entertainers should also channel part of their resources toward uplifting the less privileged.
Oluremi Tinubu also defended her earlier comments encouraging women to embrace petty trading, insisting there is dignity in honest work and that many Nigerians have transformed small businesses into thriving enterprises.
To illustrate her point, she recounted the story of an unemployed graduate in Abuja who ventured into akara sales after failing to secure a white-collar job. According to her, her initiative supported the young entrepreneur, who has since expanded the business and now employs 12 workers.
She reaffirmed that her empowerment programme would continue to support small-scale traders, including sellers of peppers, vegetables, melon, okra, roasted corn and akara, despite the public criticism that followed her earlier remarks.
The First Lady said encouraging entrepreneurship alongside charitable support from successful Nigerians remains one of the practical ways to reduce poverty, create jobs and improve livelihoods across the country.
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