Video News: We’re Also Supporting Tomato, Pepper Sellers— Remi Tinubu Defends Akara, Kuli-kuli Comment
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has defended her earlier remarks about small-scale businesses, clarifying that the Federal Government’s empowerment initiatives are not limited to akara sellers but also cover traders dealing in tomatoes, pepper, vegetables, roasted plantain and other petty businesses.
Mrs Tinubu made the remarks on Monday while inaugurating the newly completed Abubakar Maje Haruna Hall at the Emir of Hadejia’s Palace in Jigawa State.
Her comments followed criticism that trailed her earlier reference to akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli businesses, which drew backlash on social media, with some Nigerians accusing her of downplaying the country's economic challenges.
Responding to the criticism, the First Lady disclosed that the Federal Government had provided N100 million to the Jigawa State Government to support 2,000 petty traders across the state.
“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.
“And I know they’ve been talking that I said akara. It’s not only akara, we also have tomato sellers. We have boole, and those also selling pepper, selling vegetables for us in the GC 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.
According to the First Lady, each beneficiary will receive N50,000 to help strengthen and expand their businesses.
“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 added.
Mrs Tinubu insisted that criticism of her previous comments would not discourage the government from continuing its empowerment programmes.
“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,” Mrs Tinubu said.
She also highlighted Nigeria’s vast but underutilised natural resources, recalling her visit to an orange orchard in Benue State, and urged young Nigerians to look beyond the oil sector in exploring economic opportunities.
“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.