Oluremi Tinubu’s Akara Comment Taken Out Of Context – Group

A pro-government group, Renewed Hope Neighbour 2 Neighbour, has defended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, against criticisms trailing her recent remarks that Nigerians should embrace small businesses such as selling akara.

It said her comments were intended to promote economic empowerment rather than diminish the country’s economic realities.

In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the group’s national coordinator, Hon. Belusochukwu Enwere, said the First Lady’s remarks had been taken out of context and sensationalised on social media.

According to him, Senator Tinubu made the comments while speaking on the objectives of the Renewed Hope Initiative, which focuses on empowering vulnerable Nigerians through grants, skills acquisition and other support programmes.

Enwere said the First Lady’s reference to businesses such as akara, kuli-kuli, and roasted corn was meant to illustrate low-capital ventures that beneficiaries could start with grants rather than loans.

“The First Lady’s comments were clear and constructive. They highlighted the importance of starting small businesses with minimal capital and scaling them up over time,” he said.

He argued that the message reflected a widely accepted entrepreneurial principle that many successful businesses begin on a small scale before growing through innovation, hard work and sustained support.

“We regret that these remarks have been taken out of context and sensationalised by some sections of the public and social media. The First Lady’s message was one of hope, resilience and practical empowerment: start small, grow big,” Enwere added.

The group maintained that the philosophy aligns with global entrepreneurship practices, in which many thriving enterprises have evolved from modest beginnings.

It also commended the First Lady for her commitment to improving the welfare of women, youths and other vulnerable groups through the Renewed Hope Initiative.

According to the statement, the initiative has provided grants, vocational training, healthcare interventions and other programmes designed to promote self-reliance and reduce poverty.

The group further highlighted Senator Tinubu’s interventions in funding programmes targeting tuberculosis eradication, breast cancer support and the fight against malnutrition, describing the efforts as evidence of her commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians.

Renewed Hope Neighbour 2 Neighbour urged Nigerians to support the First Lady’s empowerment initiatives rather than criticise her remarks, stressing that addressing poverty and unemployment requires collective action.

It also called on the media and the public to engage constructively with the Renewed Hope Initiative, insisting that support for small businesses remains a critical pathway to economic growth, job creation and self-sufficiency.