Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has defended her recent remarks encouraging small-scale entrepreneurship, insisting that the Federal Government’s economic empowerment programme is not limited to “akara” sellers but is designed to support thousands of petty traders across the country.
Speaking on Monday, the First Lady sought to calm the controversy that followed her earlier comments in which she mentioned businesses such as akara frying, roasted corn and kuli-kuli production as examples of small enterprises capable of benefiting from government support. The remarks had triggered widespread criticism on social media, with many Nigerians arguing that they appeared insensitive to the country’s deepening economic hardship and rising cost of living.
Clarifying her position, Mrs Tinubu said her comments had been misunderstood, stressing that the government’s intervention covers a broad range of micro-businesses, including traders dealing in tomatoes, pepper, vegetables, roasted plantain—popularly known as “booli”—and other small-scale commercial activities that sustain millions of low-income Nigerians.
The First Lady spoke during the inauguration of the newly completed Abubakar Maje Haruna Hall at the Palace of the Emir of Hadejia in Jigawa State. A video of her remarks was later broadcast by TVC News.
Addressing the public reaction to her earlier comments, Mrs Tinubu disclosed that the Federal Government had already provided N100 million to the Jigawa State Government to empower 2,000 petty traders as part of its ongoing economic support programme.
According to her, the initiative is intended to strengthen existing businesses by providing beneficiaries with additional working capital to expand and sustain their operations.
“Because of the atmosphere, what is going on, I’ve told Her Excellency that we’ve already given, donated about N100 million to her to use to empower 2,000 petty traders,” she said.
The First Lady acknowledged that her earlier reference to akara businesses had become a major topic of public discussion but insisted that the programme was never designed exclusively for that category of traders.
“And I know they’ve been talking that I said akara. It’s not only akara,” she explained.
“We also have tomato sellers. We have booli and those also selling pepper, selling vegetables for us in the market.”
She emphasised that the administration’s objective is to strengthen the economic base of petty traders by helping them increase their working capital and improve the sustainability of their businesses.
“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 added.
Mrs Tinubu further explained that each of the 2,000 beneficiaries in Jigawa State would receive N50,000 under the programme to recapitalise their businesses.
According to her, the intervention is specifically targeted at women already engaged in small-scale commercial activities, enabling them to purchase additional stock, expand their operations and improve household incomes.
“We continue to carry the capacity. We have the amount of 2,000 women who are already in small businesses. They will recapitalise their businesses with the N50,000 each. We’ve already given the N100 million,” she said.
The First Lady also dismissed suggestions that criticism on social media would discourage the government from implementing its empowerment initiatives.
She maintained that those directly benefiting from the programme appreciated the intervention and understood its purpose, regardless of public commentary.
“I know all those people who are affected, they do appreciate it,” she said.
“And we are not intimidated by all those wrong reports. But we are forging ahead and making sure that our people are well cared for.”
Her latest remarks come amid continuing public debate over the effectiveness of government interventions in addressing Nigeria’s worsening economic conditions.
Many Nigerians have expressed concerns over rising inflation, high food prices, unemployment and declining purchasing power, arguing that broader economic reforms are required alongside targeted empowerment programmes.
The controversy surrounding the First Lady’s earlier comments reflected wider frustrations among citizens who interpreted the reference to akara businesses as an indication that government officials were disconnected from the scale of economic hardship facing millions of Nigerians.
By clarifying that the programme extends to a diverse range of petty traders, Mrs Tinubu appeared to be responding directly to those criticisms while reaffirming the administration’s commitment to supporting low-income entrepreneurs.
Beyond the issue of petty trading, the First Lady also used the occasion to encourage Nigerians, particularly young people, to take advantage of the country’s abundant natural resources instead of relying solely on opportunities linked to crude oil.
She said her visits to different parts of the country had convinced her that Nigeria possesses enormous untapped economic potential capable of creating jobs, reducing poverty and stimulating national development if properly harnessed.
“Nigeria is a really blessed country,” she said.
“I’ve been travelling, and I pray that our young people will see the resources we have in this nation.”
According to Mrs Tinubu, the country’s economic future lies not only in petroleum but also in agriculture, solid minerals and numerous other sectors that remain largely underdeveloped.
“We have not even gone to explore yet because we are thinking it’s oil. But there are so many things,” she observed.
She urged young Nigerians to embrace agriculture, entrepreneurship and other productive ventures capable of generating wealth while contributing to national economic growth.
The empowerment programme forms part of ongoing initiatives by the Federal Government aimed at providing financial support to vulnerable groups and strengthening small businesses across the country.
While the First Lady insisted that the intervention is already making a positive impact on beneficiaries, public reactions remain mixed, with supporters describing the programme as a practical means of supporting grassroots entrepreneurs, while critics continue to argue that broader structural reforms are needed to address the country’s persistent economic challenges.
Despite the controversy, Mrs Tinubu reaffirmed that the administration would continue implementing its empowerment initiatives, maintaining that helping petty traders grow their businesses remains an important component of the government’s efforts to improve livelihoods and promote inclusive economic development across Nigeria.
