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Presidency defends Remi Tinubu’s “akara business” comment, says first lady urging Nigerians to get entrepreneurial skill
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.
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