Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has defended her comments on supporting small-scale businesses, insisting that the government will continue to empower petty traders despite criticism from sections of the public.
ADVERTISE HERE:
[email protected]
Her response follows widespread reactions to recent remarks in which she highlighted low-capital ventures such as akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli businesses as examples of enterprises that can benefit from government support programmes.
The comments, which circulated widely on social media, sparked debate among Nigerians.
Many online users argued that the examples cited did not adequately reflect the severity of the country’s economic difficulties and the challenges facing households and entrepreneurs.
However, Mrs Tinubu maintained that the administration’s intervention programmes are designed to reach people operating at the grassroots level, particularly those in the informal sector who often struggle to access conventional financing.
According to her, government assistance is not restricted to any single trade but extends to a broad range of small business owners whose livelihoods depend on daily commercial activities.
“We are focused on helping ordinary Nigerians grow their businesses, whether they sell akara, tomatoes, vegetables, pepper or other products in local markets,” she said.
The First Lady stressed that empowering micro-business operators remains a key component of ongoing efforts to improve economic opportunities and support household incomes across communities.
She further dismissed what she described as misleading interpretations of her earlier comments, arguing that the intention was to demonstrate how grants can help individuals start or expand businesses without the burden of repayment.
“Our commitment is to continue supporting people at the grassroots.
"The beneficiaries understand the value of these programmes, and criticism based on inaccurate reports will not stop the work,” she added.
Mrs Tinubu had earlier explained that the administration prefers providing grants to certain beneficiaries rather than loans, a strategy she said is aimed at easing access to capital for small-scale entrepreneurs.
The renewed defence of her remarks comes amid continuing public discussions over economic policies, cost-of-living pressures and the effectiveness of government interventions targeted at vulnerable groups and small business owners across Nigeria.
Post a Comment
Drop Your Comment In The Box Below