Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, has defended her advice encouraging unemployed women to engage in small-scale businesses such as selling akara, insisting that her office will continue supporting petty traders across the country
The remarks come after a video of the First Lady urging jobless Nigerian women to consider frying and selling bean cakes, popularly known as akara, sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many critics accusing her of being insensitive to the country’s economic realities.
Addressing the controversy during an event in Jigawa State on Monday, Remi Tinubu said the initiative extends beyond akara sellers and is aimed at empowering people involved in different forms of small businesses.
“I heard people talking about akara sellers. It is not only akara sellers. We are also supporting tomato sellers, maize sellers, vegetable sellers, and many other petty traders.
“I know the beneficiaries appreciate it, and we’re not intimidated by the wrong reports, we will continue to make sure that we care for our people,” she said.
“We’ve donated 100 million to help petty traders and I know people have been talking that I said Akara, but it’s not only Akara, we also have Booli sellers, tomato sellers, vegetable sellers and pepper sellers too, we’ll continue to empower them”
First Lady responds to critics… pic.twitter.com/s3qBBNUAQz
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) June 30, 2026
Follow Us on Facebook – @LadunLiadi; Instagram – @LadunLiadi; Twitter – @LadunLiadi; Youtube – @LadunLiadiTV for updates
We don hear