“To Start Akara Business Doesn’t Take Much” — Remi Tinubu Defends Grant Programme

The First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, has sparked widespread discussion after highlighting small-scale businesses such as akara frying and roasted corn vending as examples of entrepreneurship supported through grant programmes.

Speaking on the initiative, the First Lady said the government was providing grants not loans to encourage Nigerians to start businesses that require relatively little capital.

“We’re trying to give hope. To start akara business doesn’t take much; to start roasting corn doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant. We have encouraged Nigerians as best as we could. What is within our hands, I have given, and I keep giving,” she said.

Her remarks have generated mixed reactions across social media and among economic commentators. While some Nigerians commended the grants as a practical way of supporting low-income earners and boosting self-employment, others argued that the country’s economic challenges require broader industrial and manufacturing policies.

Critics contend that Nigeria should focus more on expanding domestic production and value addition, noting that the country continues to import many everyday consumer goods despite its vast natural and human resources.

Some commentators argued that greater emphasis should be placed on refining crude oil locally, processing agricultural commodities such as cocoa, coffee, sugarcane, and oilseeds into finished products, and promoting exports to improve foreign exchange earnings and reduce dependence on imports.

They also maintained that while supporting micro-enterprises is beneficial, long-term economic growth depends on industrialisation, manufacturing, and policies that create large-scale employment.

The debate comes amid ongoing discussions about Nigeria’s economic reforms, infrastructure investments, rising cost of living, and strategies for reducing unemployment and boosting economic productivity.

As public reactions continue, analysts say the conversation reflects a broader question about how best to balance short-term poverty alleviation with long-term economic transformation.