Sunday Dare, spokesperson for President Bola Tinubu on media and communications, has defended First Lady Remi Tinubu over her comment encouraging Nigerians, especially women, to start roasted corn, akara, kuli-kuli and other small-scale businesses.

After hosting the wives of the 36 governors in Abuja last week, Mrs Tinubu highlighted the financial interventions provided through her office to vulnerable Nigerians in line with the Mr Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Her comment had generated widespread reactions from Nigerians who accused Mrs Tinubu of being insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.

Mr Dare, in an interview on Mic on Podcast hosted by Seun Okinbaloye on Saturday, however, said Mrs Tinubu did not miss any point, insisting she was advising Nigerians to get some level of entrepreneurial skills.

“She didn’t miss her point. Her point is that whatever it is, try and do something. Have some level of entrepreneurial skills. 

“When you look at the informal sector whose resilience continues to lift this economy; it’s because of these small-scale entrepreneurs that sell akara because we find it predominantly everywhere and also in the north. They are also significant,” Mr Dare stated.

Citing his own experience and that of the business tycoon Aliko Dangote, Mr Dare urged Nigerians to get engaged in any legitmate enterprise, however small, amid the biting hardship in the country.

“Look at me today. Whenever I am today, my mother sold akara and banana. I carried banana on the tray in my head to markets in Jos, Plateau State. My mother sold oranges. And through that, they were able to train me. What’s wrong with that if that was right 60 years ago? Because it’s about the capital you have to grow these businesses by starting small.

“Go and read Dangote’s story. Go and read how he started from? He also started like a small trader. So the point the first lady is making is, whatever it is, be engaged in some kind of enterprise,” he added.

Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, berated Mrs Tinubu over her comment, asking her to first venture into the business to encourage other Nigerian women.

“Senator Remi Tinubu should first set up Corn, Akara and Kuli Kuli business for some members of her family and the APC women leaders. It will encourage other Nigerians to venture into the same business,” Mr Effiong said in a statement on X on Saturday.

Newly crowned national champion Abubakar Yusuf will be back in action today as he headlines the one-day Tswako Foundation UTR Tennis Tournament in Abuja.

Sports247 reports that the tournament promises to deliver another exciting spectacle, with 16 players battling for supremacy and a winner’s prize of ₦100,000 in a high-intensity competition scheduled to be completed in a single day.

Yusuf enters the event brimming with confidence following the biggest victory of his career at the DavNotch Open Tennis Championship.

The rising star stunned Nigerian number one Canice Abua in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-1 to secure his maiden senior national title and announce himself as one of the country’s brightest tennis prospects, Sports247 gathered.

The triumph was particularly remarkable, considering Yusuf had never previously reached the final of a senior national event.

Among the four finalists at the DavNotch Championship, he was the only player without prior experience of competing in a national final.

However, the young player defied expectations with a composed and dominant display against the highly-rated Abua. After taking a closely contested opening set, Yusuf completely controlled the second set, breaking his opponent’s serve repeatedly to secure an emphatic victory.

The result marked a major breakthrough for the unheralded star and significantly boosted his profile within Nigerian tennis circles.

Now, less than 24 hours after lifting the biggest trophy of his career, Yusuf has another opportunity to continue his impressive run of form.

The Tswako Foundation UTR Tournament will test the endurance and consistency of all participants, with players required to navigate multiple matches in a single day to emerge champion.

With momentum firmly on his side and confidence at an all-time high, Yusuf will undoubtedly be the player to watch in Abuja.

A second title in as many days would further underline his rapid rise and cement his status as one of the most exciting talents in Nigerian tennis.

All eyes will be on the newly crowned national champion as he attempts to turn his fairytale week into an unforgettable one by adding another trophy to his growing collection.