‘Starting an Akara, Roasted Corn, Kulikuli Business Doesn’t Take Much’ – Remi Tinubu Advises Women to Empower Themselves

• First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has encouraged women to embrace small-scale businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn and kulikuli.

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has sparked reactions after saying women can achieve economic empowerment by starting small businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn and kulikuli.

Speaking during a meeting with the wives of the 36 state governors in Abuja, Mrs Tinubu stressed that many small businesses require little capital to begin and can provide sustainable income for families.

“To start akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn or kuli-kuli doesn’t take much. We have encouraged Nigerians as best as we could, we have given people a grant, I also gave to several others.”

The First Lady said her administration’s interventions, particularly through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), are designed to empower Nigerians, especially women and vulnerable groups, through grants, skills acquisition and other support programmes.

Her comments come days after she urged young Nigerians to actively seek opportunities in government ministries and agencies rather than assuming there are no jobs available.

According to Mrs Tinubu, the government is laying foundations that will benefit future generations and has continued to support citizens through various empowerment schemes despite the country’s economic challenges.

The remarks, however, have generated mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians agreeing that small businesses can be stepping stones to financial independence, while others argued that the comments fail to address the broader issues of unemployment and the rising cost of living.

Despite the criticism, the First Lady maintained that Nigerians should not lose hope, urging citizens to embrace entrepreneurship, innovation and self-reliance as pathways to economic growth and national development.

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