Remi Tinubu Defends Akara Comment, Urges Davido, Others To Fund Poor

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has once again defended her viral comment on empowering women through petty trading.

NAIJAONPOINT reports that the First Lady had, in June, suggested that women could be empowered through government grants to start businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn and processing kuli-kuli.

The remark drew criticism from Nigerians who said the suggestion trivialised the struggles of Nigerian women.

While making clarification on Saturday during the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme in Lokoja, Kogi State, Tinubu stood by the Renewed Hope Initiative’s grassroots empowerment scheme.

The First Lady turned her appeal to Nigeria’s entertainment industry, urging young stars to establish charitable foundations for the poor.

“I want to appeal to our young ones in the entertainment industry. I have mentioned it before, and I will use Akon, a music icon who does a lot of great charity work.

“They make the Burna Boys of this world, the Asakes, all of them, Davido, we want to see you with one foundation or the other, helping the poor with your money,” she said.

She said luxury cars were not a problem, but entertainers should also give back.

“Good cars are good, a Maybach is good, a Rolls-Royce is good, but still, you can help,” she said.

Tinubu listed pepper, vegetable, okra and melon sellers, alongside akara and kuli-kuli traders, as beneficiaries of her empowerment scheme.

She said petty traders, including pepper and vegetable sellers, deserved support.

“The burden on the government is huge. You can still help. There are pepper sellers, there are vegetable sellers, there are okra sellers, melon sellers, akara sellers. Akara is delicious, I can tell you that,” she said.