First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called on leading Afrobeats artists—including Damini “Burna Boy” Ogulu, David “Davido” Adeleke, and Ahmed “Asake” Ololade—to ramp up their support for Nigeria’s less privileged citizens. Speaking at the launch of a national community food bank in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Saturday, she stressed that while personal success is commendable, influential figures must contribute more to social welfare.
Akon’s example as a benchmark
Mrs Tinubu cited Akon’s philanthropic work as a model, urging artists to establish foundations to directly assist people living in poverty. “The burden on the government is huge; you can still help,” she stated, noting that music stars have the financial means to make a significant impact. She added that such support could directly aid those engaged in micro-enterprises, such as selling peppers, vegetables, and traditional foodstuffs.
Reframing the discourse on small businesses
Addressing public reaction to her previous comments on the informal economy, the First Lady reiterated the importance of valuing honest labour. She recounted the success story of a young graduate in Abuja who, unable to find formal employment, began selling akara (bean cakes). After receiving additional equipment through a support programme, his business expanded to employ 12 workers. “Once, I read an article about a young graduate who said he didn’t get a job… he now has 12 workers working under him. And he’s doing very, very well,” she said.
New empowerment initiative launched
During the event, Mrs Tinubu announced a fresh phase of the ‘Renewed Hope’ initiative. A donation of ₦100 million has been made to the office of the First Lady of Kogi State to provide ₦50,000 grants to 2,000 small-scale traders. The initiative aims to help these entrepreneurs recapitalise their businesses and improve their economic independence.
