Tinubu’s Wife Tells Nigerians “To Start Akara Business, Corn Roasting And Kuli-Kuli Doesn’t Need A Lot Of Money”
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has defended the Federal Government’s empowerment programmes, saying the grants being distributed to small business owners are intended to give Nigerians hope and encourage self-reliance despite the country’s economic situation.
Speaking during a recent engagement, the First Lady said the administration deliberately opted to provide grants rather than loans to petty traders and vulnerable Nigerians, stressing that many small-scale businesses require little capital to get started.
According to her, businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn, or producing kuli-kuli can be launched with minimal investment and serve as a source of sustainable income.Africans & Diaspora “We’re trying to give hope.
To start akara business doesn’t take much; to start roasting corn doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant,” she said.
She added that the government remains committed to supporting citizens within the limits of available resources. “What is within our hands, I have given, and I keep giving,” she stated.
The remarks were made under the Renewed Hope Initiative, an empowerment programme through which grants have been distributed to women, petty traders and small business owners across several states. Recent interventions under the programme include financial support for beneficiaries in Benue, Ekiti and Kaduna states, where women and other small-scale entrepreneurs received grants to strengthen their businesses without any repayment obligation. The initiative is aimed at promoting economic inclusion by supporting vulnerable groups engaged in micro-enterprises and encouraging entrepreneurship at the grassroots level.
However, the First Lady’s comments have generated mixed reactions among Nigerians, particularly on social media.Africans & Diaspora Supporters praised the initiative, describing the grants as a practical intervention for low-income entrepreneurs struggling with the rising cost of living and difficult economic conditions.
Others, however, argued that while the grants may provide temporary relief, they are insufficient to address the broader economic challenges confronting Nigerians, including soaring inflation, high fuel prices and the increasing cost of doing business. Some critics also questioned whether encouraging citizens to rely on small-scale ventures alone is enough to tackle the country’s deepening economic hardship.
The administration of President Bola Tinubu has consistently defended its economic reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and foreign exchange policy adjustments, insisting that although the measures have caused short-term hardship, they are necessary to achieve long-term economic stability and growth.Executive Branch Senator Oluremi Tinubu has repeatedly urged Nigerians to remain patient, assuring them that the government will continue implementing programmes aimed at reducing poverty, empowering vulnerable groups and expanding economic opportunities across the country.
.newsweek
