Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has found herself at the center of a major social media storm following comments she made regarding low-capital, small-scale entrepreneurship.
Speaking to State House correspondents in Abuja after the second-quarter meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative, the First Lady suggested that citizens look toward starting small local food ventures, such as selling akara (bean cakes), roasted corn, or kuli-kuli (peanut cakes), because they require very little capital to kickstart.
The remarks, which were highlighted in a widely shared video broadcast, were intended to explain the approach of the Renewed Hope Initiative. The First Lady emphasized that the intervention body provides non-repayable grants rather than interest-bearing loans to ensure vulnerable Nigerians can start immediate livelihoods. In her address, she noted that the initiative has also funneled substantial funding into critical sectors, including a ₦2 billion donation for tuberculosis management, ₦1 billion for breast cancer treatments, and ₦500 million to fight severe malnutrition.
However, the advice quickly ignited a fierce debate online, drawing sharp criticism from social media users who feel the comments reflect a disconnect between the political class and the current economic realities of the country. Critics argued that promoting roadside food vending as a economic solution felt insensitive at a time when citizens are grappling with high inflation, rising food costs, and a demand for sustainable career opportunities.
Conversely, supporters of the First Lady rushed to her defense, arguing that there is deep dignity in honest labor and pointing out that small-scale food trading has historically served as a lucrative income source that supports millions of Nigerian households.
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