Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, has advised economically disadvantaged Nigerians to consider starting small-scale businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn, and kuli-kuli, emphasizing that such ventures do not demand significant financial outlay.
Administration's Support Through Grants
Speaking on the government's efforts to bolster small enterprises, Mrs. Tinubu explained that the administration has provided grants rather than loans to support citizens. She stated: “To start akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn or kuli-kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan, we gave them a grant. We have encouraged Nigerians as best as we could. I also gave to several others.”
Over ₦3 Billion Spent on Empowerment
The First Lady further disclosed that more than ₦3 billion has been allocated to empower poor Nigerians through these initiatives. However, her remarks have sparked backlash on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where many users criticized the advice as out of touch with the current economic realities.
Critics pointed out that numerous small businesses have failed due to inflation, high costs of raw materials, and low purchasing power. The video of her statement, shared on Instagram by Lindaikejiblog, has drawn widespread condemnation.
