Remi Tinubu Defends Akara, Corn Business Advice, Says N50,000 Grants Are Transforming Lives of Petty Traders

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has defended her recent advice encouraging low-income Nigerians to venture into small-scale businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn and producing kuli-kuli, insisting that thousands of petty traders have benefited from the Federal Government’s empowerment initiatives.

Global Mirror News reports that the First Lady made the clarification during an official engagement in Jigawa State on Monday, June 29 2026, following widespread criticism that greeted her earlier remarks made to journalists in Abuja last week.

Her initial comments had generated intense reactions on social media, with critics arguing that encouraging traditional micro-enterprises was not enough to address Nigeria’s worsening economic challenges or create sustainable employment opportunities, particularly for young people in an increasingly technology-driven global economy.

Responding to the criticism, Mrs Tinubu maintained that her remarks were misunderstood, stressing that the Government’s empowerment programmes extend beyond akara sellers to include a wide range of small-scale traders.

According to her, the Federal Government has already provided about ₦100 million in financial support to empower 2,000 petty traders, with each beneficiary receiving ₦50,000 to strengthen and expand their businesses.

“I’ve told His Excellency that we’ve already donated about ₦100 million 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, boole sellers, pepper sellers and vegetable sellers in the market.

“We will continue to empower them and add to their resources so that their trade can really be sustainable. That is what we are doing,” she said.

The First Lady insisted that the beneficiaries appreciate the intervention and dismissed criticisms of her comments, saying they would not discourage the Government from continuing its grassroots empowerment programmes.

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

Mrs Tinubu also encouraged Nigerian youths to look beyond crude oil and explore the country’s abundant natural and economic resources to build sustainable livelihoods.

According to her, Nigeria remains richly endowed with untapped opportunities capable of creating wealth and improving living standards if properly harnessed.

“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 them yet because we are thinking it’s oil. But there are so many things,” she said.

The First Lady reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting grassroots entrepreneurs through empowerment initiatives aimed at improving incomes and promoting economic self-reliance.