First Lady Remi Tinubu has broken her silence following criticism and the backlash that trailed her remarks concerning small scale businesses.
The statement captured in a now viral video triggered outrage and anger amongst Nigerian youths, who slammed the First Lady for allegedly despising Nigerians.
However, responding to the development, Remi Tinubu, while speaking in Jigawa State on Monday, said the criticism does not intimidate her.
According to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the targeted recipients of the advice are happy with it, adding that her office also supports tomato sellers and other petty traders.
She said, “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”.
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Akara Business Costs Nothing To Start
In a recent outing, Senator Oluremi Tinubu advised women to start small businesses like frying and selling of bean cake(akara), roasted corn and kulikuli (a local peanut snack).
Speaking in a video while highlighting the administration’s support for small businesses through grants, the First Lady said such ventures can be started with minimal resources and stressed that the government had provided grants, not loans, to support Nigerians.
Her comments quickly sparked mixed reactions online, with many users arguing that the advice does not reflect the harsh economic realities currently facing millions of Nigerians.
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Backstory…
The comments from the viral clip has put First Lady Remi Tinubu in the spotlight and consequently set her up for massive backlash.
The most recent comes from a Youruba union identified as Yoruba Ìgbìnmó Májékóbájé Ilé-Yorùbá. The group condemned First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, over her recent statement on women’s empowerment, saying she should live by example and begin selling akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli in the Surulere area of Lagos.
The union further asked the Iyaloja-General, Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, Tinubu’s daughter, to hawk similar items at Oju Elegba under bridge.
The group insisted that Oluremi’s reduction of Nigerian women’s challenges to roadside commerce was offensive, claiming that the world had advanced via creativity, innovation, and technology.
