A FRESH political storm has erupted around the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu after First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s remarks encouraging Nigerians to embrace low-capital businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn and producing kuli-kuli triggered widespread public outrage.
What began as a message intended to promote entrepreneurship and self-reliance quickly evolved into a national conversation about governance, empathy and whether those in positions of power truly appreciate the daily struggles confronting millions of Nigerians battling a difficult economic climate.
The backlash unfolded against the backdrop of persistent inflation, rising food prices, expensive transportation, declining purchasing power and widespread unemployment that continue to define everyday life for many households across the country.
In such an environment, public comments from senior government officials are often measured not only by their intent but also by how they resonate with citizens who expect reassurance, practical solutions and evidence that their leaders understand the realities they face. Consequently, the First Lady’s comments became more than an appeal for entrepreneurship; they developed into a broader referendum on leadership communication and public perception.
In this Sunday Feature, News Point Nigeria examines the controversy that has dominated public discourse, tracing how a brief speech at the Presidential Villa sparked fierce reactions across social media, divided public opinion and prompted an official defence from the Presidency.
Beyond the immediate exchanges, this newspaper dissects the competing arguments surrounding the episode, exploring whether the criticism reflects growing frustration over economic hardship, a widening trust deficit between citizens and government, or simply differing interpretations of a message that supporters insist was intended to inspire resilience rather than diminish the challenges facing ordinary Nigerians.
The controversy originated during the second-quarter meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative with the wives of state governors at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where Senator Tinubu highlighted the initiative’s support for vulnerable Nigerians through grants and social intervention programmes.
While encouraging beneficiaries to consider small-scale enterprises that require relatively modest start-up capital, she cited businesses such as akara frying, roasted corn vending and kuli-kuli production as examples of viable pathways towards economic empowerment, a message that would soon ignite one of the country’s most heated political debates.
According to Senator Tinubu, the initiative was designed to support vulnerable Nigerians through grants rather than loans. She explained that beneficiaries received direct financial assistance to establish businesses capable of generating sustainable income without the burden of repayment.
“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.
The First Lady further explained that the Renewed Hope Initiative extends beyond business grants. She highlighted interventions spanning healthcare, agriculture, education, ICT training, scholarships and other social investment programmes. She also pointed to financial support her office had provided towards tuberculosis control, breast cancer intervention and tackling malnutrition, arguing that the initiative represents an effort to complement government programmes aimed at improving citizens’ welfare.
Throughout her remarks, she maintained that the objective of the programme was to restore hope at a time when many Nigerians feel discouraged by prevailing economic conditions.
“The average man is supposed to have hope. We have to renew our hope, and that’s what I have to tell Nigerians,” she added.
However, almost immediately after a video of the speech surfaced online circulated widely after being shared by News Channel 247, the conversation shifted dramatically from the substance of the intervention to the symbolism of the examples she used.
Within hours, social media platforms became flooded with reactions from Nigerians who argued that the comments reflected a significant disconnect between the country’s political elite and citizens struggling with one of the toughest economic periods in recent history.
For many critics, the controversy was never about whether selling akara or roasted corn is a respectable means of earning a living. Rather, they argued that the advice appeared inadequate in response to widespread concerns over inflation, shrinking incomes and the scarcity of quality employment opportunities.
One X user, @ChucksChukwu, described the First Lady as appearing detached from the realities experienced by ordinary Nigerians.
“I hope that you guys are not amazed at Oluremi’s advice, what do y’all expect from a person who lives in an alternate world to say? Remi lives in a 24/7 solar system powered society. Remi is only reminiscing on the world she lived before. Y’all should treat her with kindness,” the user posted.
Another contributor, Goodfriday Goodwill, used the episode to criticise what he described as declining leadership standards, arguing that comments of this nature reinforce public perceptions that political leaders increasingly fail to appreciate the everyday struggles confronting citizens.
Cephas Okarefe also joined the conversation, accusing Nigeria’s political class of consistently underestimating the challenges facing ordinary people.
According to him, the remarks reflected a leadership culture that no longer adequately understands or values the experiences of average Nigerians.
As reactions multiplied, the controversy evolved into something much larger than one speech.
Numerous contributors argued that the issue represented a broader communication challenge facing government officials. In their view, citizens increasingly expect leaders not only to implement policies but also to demonstrate empathy in how they discuss economic hardship.
An X user identified as @ADCVanguard_ described the comments as evidence of how disconnected Nigeria’s ruling class has become from the everyday realities of the people.
Another user, @TossynBankz_, attempted to distinguish between criticism of informal businesses and criticism of the First Lady’s message.
According to the user, Nigerians were not mocking akara, roasted corn or kuli-kuli businesses, all of which have supported countless families for generations. Rather, the concern was that citizens are asking government to create a stronger economy characterised by lower prices, more employment opportunities and improved living standards. Within that context, encouraging people to begin petty trading appeared, to many, insufficient.
The debate continued to gather momentum as more commentators added broader political dimensions.
One user, @ireteeh, contrasted the government’s empowerment initiatives with private-sector programmes that equip young Nigerians with technology skills capable of opening global employment opportunities.
Another contributor, Nefertiti (@firstladyship), lamented what she described as a nation overwhelmed by mounting challenges, suggesting that Nigerians have become exhausted by repeated economic difficulties.
Yet the controversy was far from one-sided.
Many Nigerians vigorously defended Senator Tinubu, insisting that there is dignity in labour and warning against dismissing occupations that have historically transformed lives.
Several contributors reminded critics that countless professionals, business executives, academics and public servants emerged from humble family backgrounds sustained by petty trading.
One supporter, @Akikanju1568901, argued that akara remains one of Nigeria’s most profitable micro-businesses when properly managed. According to the user, generations of families financed university education, built homes and accumulated wealth through the trade.
Another defender, @PemiOladapo, stressed that local snack businesses remain legitimate entrepreneurial ventures deserving respect rather than ridicule, urging young Nigerians to embrace them and scale them into larger enterprises.
As public debate intensified, the Presidency moved to defend the First Lady’s comments.
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, argued that critics had misunderstood both the context and the intention of her remarks.
Speaking during an interview on Mic On Podcast, Dare insisted that Senator Tinubu was promoting entrepreneurship, resilience and self-reliance rather than suggesting that Nigerians should permanently settle for petty trading.
Drawing from his personal experience, Dare recounted how his own upbringing reflected the power of the informal economy.
He revealed that his mother sold akara, bananas and oranges to support the family while he assisted by carrying trays of bananas to markets in Jos, Plateau State.
According to him, those humble businesses financed his education and ultimately contributed to his professional success.
“Wherever I am today, my mother sold akara. Wherever I am today, my mother sold bananas. I carried bananas in a tray on my head to markets in Jos. My mother sold oranges, and through that they were able to train me,” he recalled.
For Dare, the lesson was straightforward.
He argued that if small businesses provided pathways out of poverty for previous generations, contemporary Nigerians should not automatically dismiss them simply because they appear modest.
He maintained that entrepreneurship often begins with limited capital before expanding into larger ventures.
“The point she is making is, whatever it is, be engaged in some kind of enterprise,” Dare explained, insisting that critics had focused on the examples rather than the underlying message.
Commenting on the matter, a lecturer in Ilorin, Dr. Bose Ibrahim Olelakan, said, “While there is absolutely nothing wrong with honest labour or small-scale businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn or kuli-kuli, the timing and context of the First Lady’s remarks are deeply troubling. At a time when millions of Nigerians are grappling with soaring inflation, unemployment and the rising cost of living, such comments risk creating the impression that the country’s leadership does not fully appreciate the depth of the hardship confronting ordinary citizens.
As a mother, one would expect Senator Oluremi Tinubu to speak in a manner that reflects empathy for families struggling daily to put food on the table. Many parents can no longer afford basic necessities, and young graduates are desperately searching for meaningful employment. Suggesting petty trading as a response to widespread economic distress may unintentionally diminish the legitimate concerns of citizens who are asking for policies that create jobs, reduce inflation and improve living standards.
Furthermore, as a pastor, compassion and sensitivity should be at the heart of public communication, especially during difficult times. Words from leaders carry enormous weight and should reassure people that their pain is understood. Nigerians need messages that acknowledge their suffering while inspiring confidence through practical solutions. Encouraging entrepreneurship is commendable, but it should not appear to replace the government’s responsibility to foster an economy where citizens can access decent jobs and sustainable opportunities.
The dignity of labour has never been in question. Countless Nigerians have built successful lives through small businesses, and those enterprises deserve respect. However, the current public reaction demonstrates that many citizens are not rejecting entrepreneurship; rather, they are expressing frustration that comments of this nature seem to overlook the severity of the country’s economic realities. Leadership requires not only optimism but also empathy, and public officials should strive to ensure their words reflect both.”
The controversy nevertheless illustrates the increasingly delicate relationship between political communication and public perception in Nigeria.
During periods of economic difficulty, even well-intentioned remarks can acquire meanings far beyond what speakers originally intended. Citizens interpret official statements through the realities they experience daily—rising food prices, expensive transportation, shrinking disposable income and uncertainty about future opportunities.
For supporters of the government, Senator Tinubu’s comments represented encouragement, entrepreneurship and practical economic resilience.
Perhaps the most significant lesson emerging from the debate is that Nigerians continue to value entrepreneurship while simultaneously demanding broader structural reforms capable of creating jobs, stabilising prices and expanding economic opportunities.
Few dispute that honest labour deserves respect. Likewise, few deny that countless Nigerian families have built successful lives through businesses such as akara frying, corn roasting and kuli-kuli production.
The disagreement instead centres on expectations of leadership.
At a time when citizens are looking for reassurance that government understands their daily struggles, many believe official communication must combine optimism with empathy, encouragement with acknowledgment of hardship, and hope with practical economic solutions.
As the debate continues, the controversy surrounding the First Lady’s remarks has become more than a discussion about akara or roasted corn. It has evolved into another defining chapter in Nigeria’s ongoing national conversation about governance, economic policy, political communication and the relationship between leaders and the people they serve.