First Lady Tinubu Defends Akara Comments

First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has defended her recent remarks encouraging low-income Nigerians to engage in micro-businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn, or producing kuli-kuli, following widespread criticism of the comments.

The First Lady had made the original remarks to journalists in Abuja on Thursday, June 25, drawing backlash from critics who argued that promoting small-scale trading was out of step with a world increasingly driven by technology.

Speaking at an official event in Jigawa State on Monday, June 29, Mrs Tinubu addressed the controversy head-on, insisting that the federal government remains committed to supporting grassroots commerce.

She noted that empowerment initiatives regularly reach small-scale vendors selling tomatoes, pepper, vegetables, and roasted plantains, not just akara sellers.

To back up her position, she disclosed that the government has so far distributed ₦100 million in grants, under which about 2,000 petty traders received ₦50,000 each to recapitalise and grow their businesses.

“I’ve told Her Excellency that we’ve already given, donated about 100 million to her to use to empower 2,000 petty traders. And I know they’ve been talking that I said akara. It’s not only akara, but we also have tomato sellers. We have boole, and those are also selling pepper, selling vegetables for us in the market. We will continue to empower them and add to their resources so that their trade can really be sustainable. So that is what we are doing,” she said.

The First Lady maintained that the backlash would not derail the government’s empowerment efforts.

“I know all those people who are affected; they do appreciate it. And we are not intimidated by all those wrong reports. But we are forging ahead and making sure that our people, you know, are well cared for,” she said.

She went on to express hope that Nigerian youths would look beyond conventional paths and explore the broader opportunities available to them.

“Nigeria is a really blessed country. I’ve been travelling, and I pray that our young people will see the resources we have in this nation. We have not even gone to explore yet because we are thinking it’s oil. But there are so many things,” she said.