First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has defended her widely discussed remarks on empowering women through small-scale businesses, insisting that petty traders deserve financial support and reaffirming her commitment to grassroots economic empowerment.
Speaking on Saturday during the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme in Lokoja, Kogi State, the First Lady addressed the controversy surrounding her June comments, in which she suggested that women could benefit from government grants to establish businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn and producing kuli-kuli.
Her remarks had attracted criticism from sections of the public, including the Yoruba Union, Ìgbìnmọ́ Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, which argued that the proposal diminished the economic challenges facing Nigerian women.
Responding to the backlash, Tinubu maintained her support for the Renewed Hope Initiative’s grassroots empowerment programme and expanded her appeal to successful entertainers, urging them to establish charitable foundations to assist vulnerable Nigerians.
“I want to appeal to our young ones in the entertainment industry. I have mentioned it before, and I will use Akon, a music icon who does a lot of great charity work.
