Human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has criticized comments made by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, regarding small-scale businesses as a means of economic empowerment.
In a post on his X handle on Friday, June 26, 2026, Sowore stated that the current administration lacks practical ideas for addressing Nigeria’s economic challenges.
He wrote, “They’ve never had ideas; we can’t accuse them of running out of ideas!”
His reaction followed the circulation of a viral video in which the First Lady encouraged Nigerians to consider small-scale enterprises such as selling akara, roasted corn, and kuli-kuli as viable sources of income.
The remarks were made after the second-quarter meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative with wives of state governors at the State House in Abuja.
During the engagement, Tinubu highlighted the initiative’s efforts to support vulnerable Nigerians through grants and empowerment programmes aimed at promoting self-reliance and economic participation.
“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,” Tinubu said.
According to the First Lady, beneficiaries of the programme received grants rather than loans, enabling them to establish businesses without the burden of repayment.
She cited low-capital ventures, including the sale of local snacks and food items, as examples of enterprises that could help individuals generate income and improve their livelihoods.
Tinubu also outlined a number of interventions carried out through the Renewed Hope Initiative in sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and social investment.
She disclosed that the initiative had committed significant funds to tackling tuberculosis, breast cancer, and malnutrition, while also providing scholarships, digital skills training, and agricultural support.
The First Lady maintained that the initiative was designed to complement government efforts in improving the welfare of citizens and creating opportunities for vulnerable groups across the country.
She further stressed the need for Nigerians to remain hopeful despite prevailing economic difficulties, expressing confidence that ongoing programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda would eventually yield positive outcomes.
