First Lady’s Small Business Remarks Spark Debate Online
Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has generated widespread reactions 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 the wives of state governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Tinubu said the programme provides grants—not loans—to help vulnerable Nigerians start small businesses. She noted that ventures such as selling local snacks require relatively little capital and can provide a source of income. According to her, the initiative is designed to restore hope by supporting entrepreneurship and improving livelihoods. The First Lady also highlighted other interventions under the Renewed Hope Initiative, including donations of N2 billion to support tuberculosis treatment, N1 billion for breast cancer programmes and N500 million to tackle malnutrition. She added that the initiative has funded scholarships, ICT training, agricultural projects and other social investment programmes. Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain hopeful despite the country's economic challenges, saying the Renewed Hope Agenda is intended to improve the lives of citizens through targeted interventions. Her comments, however, sparked mixed reactions on social media. Some users argued that suggesting small-scale businesses at a time of rising living costs reflected a disconnect from the economic realities many Nigerians face. Others defended her remarks, saying businesses such as akara and roasted corn sales have long provided sustainable incomes for many families and should not be dismissed because of their modest scale.
Several commentators also maintained that the debate was less about the businesses themselves and more about the broader expectation that government should prioritise policies capable of creating jobs, reducing inflation and improving economic conditions. The differing reactions have fueled wider discussions online about entrepreneurship, government intervention and the challenges facing Nigerians amid the current economic climate.
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