First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has defended her widely discussed remarks about empowering women through small-scale businesses, maintaining that the initiative remains an important part of the Renewed Hope Initiative's grassroots empowerment programme.
She made the clarification on Saturday during the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme in Lokoja, Kogi State.
Mrs. Tinubu had earlier suggested that women could be supported with government grants to establish small businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn, and producing kuli-kuli. The comments attracted criticism from some Nigerians, including the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Ìgbìnmọ́ Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, which argued that the proposal underestimated the economic challenges facing many Nigerian women.
Speaking at the event, the First Lady reaffirmed her support for the programme and called on successful figures in Nigeria's entertainment industry to create charitable foundations dedicated to assisting vulnerable citizens.
She referenced Senegalese-American singer Akon as an example of an entertainer known for humanitarian efforts and encouraged Nigerian stars, including Burna Boy, Asake, and Davido, to invest in charitable initiatives that support the poor.
According to her, while there is nothing wrong with owning luxury vehicles such as Maybachs and Rolls-Royces, entertainers should also consider giving back to society.
Mrs. Tinubu explained that the empowerment programme is designed to benefit various categories of small-scale traders, including sellers of pepper, vegetables, okra, melon, akara, and kuli-kuli, stressing that these businesses deserve financial support.
She also shared the story of an unemployed university graduate in Abuja who turned to selling akara after failing to secure formal employment. According to her, after receiving additional support through an intervention she facilitated anonymously, the young entrepreneur expanded the business and now employs 12 workers.
The First Lady's earlier comments on akara trading remained a topic of public discussion for several weeks. During the Presidential Press Corps Dinner in Abuja, President Bola Tinubu jokingly referred to her as "Iya Alakara."
Despite the criticism, Mrs. Tinubu has continued to promote the initiative. During a visit to Jigawa State in June, she distributed ₦50,000 grants to 2,000 petty traders, insisting that public criticism would not discourage the programme.
ADEOLA KUNLE
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