First Lady’s Business Advice Draws Public Scrutiny
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has found herself at the centre of a social media storm following her recent comments encouraging Nigerians to embrace small-scale businesses, such as selling ‘akara’ (bean cakes), roasted corn, and ‘kuli-kuli’ (groundnut snacks). Speaking to State House Correspondents in Abuja after a meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative, Mrs. Tinubu highlighted these ventures as requiring minimal capital, triggering a swift and divided public reaction.
The remarks, captured in a video shared by News Channel 247 on Friday, were made in the context of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s efforts to empower vulnerable Nigerians through grants, not loans. “We’re trying to give hope, and to start Akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kuli kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant,” she stated, emphasizing the initiative’s commitment to tangible support.
Mrs. Tinubu also detailed significant contributions made by the initiative across various sectors, including healthcare, agriculture, education, and social investment. She disclosed donations of N2 billion for tuberculosis intervention, N1 billion for breast cancer initiatives, and N500 million to combat malnutrition, alongside providing scholarships and ICT training.
Social Media Erupts: Disconnection vs. Dignity of Labour
Despite the First Lady’s call for Nigerians not to lose hope amidst economic challenges, her specific mention of traditional snacks as viable businesses ignited widespread backlash across social media platforms. Critics largely viewed her statements as disconnected from the harsh economic realities faced by average citizens.
- One X user, @ADCVanguard_, commented that the video “showed exactly how disconnected Nigeria’s ruling class has become from the reality of ordinary citizens.”
- Another user, @ireteeh, drew a sharp contrast, noting that while the First Lady promoted local snacks, private citizens were “equipping people to build thriving careers in cybersecurity.”
- @firstladyship (Nefertiti) expressed grave concern, stating, “Nigerians are in big trouble. There is fire on the mountain but the people are tired of running.”
Conversely, a segment of social media users rose to the First Lady’s defense, arguing that there was no inherent flaw in encouraging such entrepreneurial pursuits.
- @Akikanju1568901 highlighted ‘akara’ as “one of the most lucrative businesses in Nigeria,” citing its low startup cost, high profit margin, and ability to fund education and asset acquisition for sellers.
- @PemiOladapo echoed this sentiment, stating, “There’s dignity in labour… these are our local snacks! People should start it and scale it!”
The Timing Controversy
A nuanced perspective emerged, suggesting that the core of the criticism wasn’t about the legitimacy of ‘akara’ or roasted corn businesses themselves, but rather the timing and context of the advice. User @TossynBankz_ articulated this view:
“Nobody is mocking akara, roasted corn, or kuli-kuli. Those are honest businesses. The problem is that Nigerians are asking for a better economy, more jobs, and lower prices. Telling people to start selling akara in this situation just feels like the government doesn’t understand what people are going through.”
The debate underscores the deep chasm between official pronouncements and public perception regarding economic strategies and the challenges of daily life in Nigeria, even as the First Lady urged citizens to renew their hope in line with the current administration’s agenda.
Watch the video below..