Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has responded to criticism of her remarks about supporting akara sellers, saying her empowerment programme extends to other small-scale traders.
In a video shared on the official NTA X account on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, Remi Tinubu spoke during a visit to a royal palace in Jigawa State following the presentation of N50,000 grants to small business owners.
She said the initiative also targets traders who sell boli, tomatoes, vegetables and peppers, stressing that the goal is to help small businesses grow and remain sustainable.
“I know they’ve been talking that I said akara. It’s not only akara; we also have tomato, boli, and the people who sell vegetables and peppers in the market,” she said.
The First Lady added that criticism would not deter her from supporting small-scale entrepreneurs, pledging that the programme would continue and that beneficiaries would receive additional support to strengthen their businesses.
