First Lady's Remarks Spark Outrage
Nigeria's First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has come under heavy criticism after suggesting that grants provided through her Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) could help Nigerians start small businesses such as frying akara, making kuli-kuli and roasting corn. The comments, made during a speech on the initiative's impact, have ignited a firestorm on social media, with many questioning the government's economic empowerment strategy.
Grants, Not Loans, for Self-Reliance
Mrs Tinubu insisted that the programme was designed to give Nigerians hope through grants rather than loans. “We're trying to give hope. To start akara business doesn't take a lot of money. To start roasting corn and kuli-kuli doesn't take much. We didn't give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant,” she said. She explained that the initiative had continued to support vulnerable Nigerians through grants and interventions in different sectors.
“We've encouraged Nigerians as best as we could. What is within our hands, I have given and I keep giving,” she added. Highlighting some of the interventions carried out under the initiative, the First Lady said financial support had been extended to the health, agriculture, education and social investment sectors.
Billions in Interventions Cited
Mrs Tinubu detailed specific allocations: “I remember giving for TB when I heard there's so much TB cases. I gave two billion to breast cancer, I gave a billion to food malnutrition, I gave half a billion.” She added, “Those are the things we've been doing and making sure that whatever this government is trying to do, that it will see the light of the day. So in agric we've done, in social investment we have, in education we've given a little bit of scholarship, ICT training and with NITDA.” She maintained that the Renewed Hope Initiative would continue to expand its interventions and urged Nigerians not to lose faith despite prevailing economic challenges.
“We are still open, still want to do more. The narrative has really changed to challenge the average man, whereas the average man is supposed to have hope. I like the idea that Mr President said this is Renewed Hope Agenda. We have to renew our hope and that's how we renew our hope. That's what I have to tell Nigerians. They don't give up, just keep... we're a very proud nation.”
Social Media Erupts in Criticism
However, the comments quickly sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians arguing that the examples cited by the First Lady did not reflect the scale of the country's economic realities, rising inflation and unemployment. One X user wrote: “The biggest black nation on earth talking Akara & corn as a way to uplift its people…” Another criticised the remarks, saying: “The billions you claimed you have given out is not your personal money. It's our common wealth.”
Renewed Hope Initiative Under Scrutiny
The Renewed Hope Initiative, launched by Mrs Tinubu shortly after President Bola Tinubu assumed office in 2023, has implemented several empowerment programmes across the country, including grants for petty traders, scholarships, ICT training, healthcare interventions and agricultural support. Her latest remarks have nonetheless reignited public debate over the government's approach to economic empowerment, with critics questioning whether small-scale grants are sufficient to address the country's worsening cost-of-living crisis.
