By Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has said that starting small-scale businesses such as akara (bean cake) vending requires little capital, according to a video from a recent interview that has been circulating on social media.
Speaking about the activities of her office, the First Lady said several interventions have been introduced to support Nigerians through grants, scholarships, ICT training, and other social investment programmes aimed at improving livelihoods.
She explained that the financial support provided through her office consists of grants rather than loans, adding that beneficiaries are encouraged to venture into small businesses such as akara production, roasted corn sales, and kuli-kuli production.
”We try to give hope and to start Akara business, roasting corn doesn’t take much,” she said.
Oluremi Tinubu stressed that her office had done everything within its capacity to support Nigerians. She also highlighted some of the humanitarian contributions made through her office, including funding for health and nutrition programmes.
”I remember giving for TB when I heard there is so much TB cases, I gave two billion; to breast cancer I gave a billion; to food malnutrition I gave half a billion,” she said.
According to her, these interventions are part of a broader effort to complement the Federal Government’s development agenda through investments in agriculture, education, social welfare, scholarships, and ICT training.
She further stated that the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda is intended to inspire optimism among Nigerians and encourage confidence in the country’s future.
”The narrative has really changed. It has changed to challenge the average man, whereas the average man is supposed to have hope. So I like the idea that Mr President said this is a ‘Renewed Hope Agenda,'” she added.
