‘Go to Surulere and Sell Akara Yourself’ – Yoruba Union Fires Back at Remi Tinubu Over Roadside Business Remarks

• The Yoruba Union has slammed First Lady Oluremi Tinubu over her advice that women can start businesses selling akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli.

The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá, has criticised Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, over her recent comments encouraging women to start small businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli.

The group said the remarks were insensitive and failed to address the real economic challenges facing Nigerian women.

In a statement signed by its Convener, Olusola Badero, and released by its Home Director, Princess Balogun, the organisation challenged the First Lady to start the business herself in Surulere, Lagos.

The group also suggested that the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, should hawk the products under the Oju Elegba Bridge if they truly believed roadside trading was the solution to women’s economic struggles.

According to the union, the world has moved beyond petty trading and is now driven by innovation, technology and industrial entrepreneurship.

“It is unfortunate that a First Lady would reduce the aspirations of Nigerian women to selling akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli on the roadside,” the statement said.

The group accused the First Lady of failing to use her position and resources to create meaningful economic opportunities for women and vulnerable groups.

It also criticised her for allegedly ignoring pressing national issues, including insecurity and economic hardship, while distributing buses and other gifts to women leaders of the ruling party.

The organisation argued that Nigerian women deserve policies that promote innovation, skills development, technology-driven entrepreneurship and sustainable economic empowerment rather than what it described as “outdated roadside trading.”

“While women in other countries are breaking barriers in science, technology and innovation, Nigerian women are being told to sell akara and roasted corn. That is unacceptable in the 21st century,” the group added.