Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has sparked widespread reactions after encouraging Nigerian women to consider small-scale businesses such as selling akara, kuli-kuli and roasted corn as part of efforts to promote economic empowerment.
The remarks, made during a public engagement on women-focused empowerment initiatives, highlighted government-backed support programmes designed to provide financial assistance in the form of grants rather than loans.
“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. We have encouraged Nigerians as best as we could. What is within our hands, I have given, and I keep giving,” Remi Tinubu said.
The comment quickly generated debate across social media platforms, with Nigerians expressing mixed reactions over the appropriateness of promoting informal roadside businesses as a solution to broader economic challenges.
Some users argued that small-scale trading remains a legitimate and accessible form of livelihood, especially for women in rural and urban communities. Others, however, questioned whether such examples reflect the scale of economic opportunities citizens expect from government empowerment programmes.
Online reactions ranged from support for grassroots entrepreneurship to criticism of the broader economic context, with many users debating the practicality of micro-businesses in today’s inflationary environment.
Despite the controversy, the First Lady maintained that the government’s approach is focused on encouraging self-reliance through accessible economic activities that require minimal startup capital.
Her comments continue to circulate widely, fuelling ongoing national discussions about empowerment strategy, poverty reduction and the role of small businesses in Nigeria’s economy.
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David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
