Akara, Corn Roasting, Kulikuli Businesses Can Change Lives — Oluremi Tinubu Urges Nigerians to Embrace Self-Reliance
By Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on Nigerians not to surrender to despair despite the prevailing economic challenges, insisting that hope, resilience and self-reliance remain critical ingredients for national recovery.
Speaking while highlighting the humanitarian and empowerment initiatives carried out through her office, the First Lady explained that her interventions are designed to cushion the effects of economic hardship on vulnerable citizens across the country. She stressed that beyond offering temporary relief, the programmes seek to empower beneficiaries with sustainable means of livelihood.
According to her, numerous Nigerians have received financial grants to establish and expand small-scale businesses capable of providing steady income with relatively low start-up capital. She specifically mentioned ventures such as akara frying, roasted corn sales and kulikuli production, describing them as practical businesses that can generate daily income for many families.
“We’re trying to give hope,” she said, explaining that the financial support provided under the initiative was not in the form of loans but outright grants.
“We didn’t give them a loan. We gave it to them as a grant,” she stated, emphasizing that the objective was to encourage entrepreneurship rather than burden beneficiaries with debt repayment.
The First Lady noted that her office has consistently pursued programmes aimed at improving the welfare of ordinary Nigerians, particularly women, youths and vulnerable groups.
Beyond economic empowerment, she disclosed that significant resources have also been committed to strengthening healthcare interventions across the country. According to her, she donated ₦2 billion to support the fight against tuberculosis after becoming concerned about the alarming number of reported cases nationwide.
She further revealed that ₦1 billion was committed to breast cancer intervention programmes, while another ₦500 million was allocated to combating food malnutrition among vulnerable populations.
Oluremi Tinubu explained that the Renewed Hope Initiative under her office has also invested in agriculture, educational support, scholarship schemes, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) training, and several social intervention programmes designed to improve the quality of life of Nigerians.
“We’re still open. Still want to do more,” she assured.
Acknowledging the economic realities confronting millions of citizens, the First Lady admitted that the current situation has placed enormous pressure on the average Nigerian.
“The narrative has really changed… to challenge the average man. Whereas the average man is supposed to have hope,” she remarked.
She linked her message directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, maintaining that rebuilding confidence among Nigerians remains an essential part of the administration’s broader development strategy.
“We have to renew our hope. And that’s how we renew our hope,” she said.
Ending on a note of optimism, the First Lady encouraged Nigerians to remain resilient despite present difficulties.
“They don’t give up… We are a very proud nation,” she concluded.
While opinions remain divided regarding the impact of ongoing economic reforms, the First Lady’s remarks underscore the Federal Government’s position that targeted empowerment programmes, healthcare interventions and entrepreneurship support remain central components of efforts aimed at easing hardship and restoring confidence among citizens.
Whether these initiatives will substantially address the growing economic concerns of millions of Nigerians remains a subject of public debate, but the administration insists that its commitment to supporting vulnerable communities remains unwavering.
Source: Gistcore Media
Global Egberi Media International Ltd
https://globalegberi.com.ng
Author: Dr. Odimientimi Agbedeyi
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