(Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu. Photo by Sun Nigeria)
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, has found herself at the centre of a social media storm after advising Nigerians that starting small businesses such as akara, roasted corn, and kuli-kuli does not require significant capital.
The remarks were made in a video circulating online, where the First Lady was speaking about the administration’s support for small businesses through grants.
“To start akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn or kuli-kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan, we gave them a grant.
We have encouraged Nigerians as best as we could. I also gave to several others,” she said.
The comments sparked a wave of reactions online, with many users arguing that the remarks reflected a deep disconnect from the economic realities facing ordinary Nigerians.
One user, @Susan, described the statement as an outright insult to Nigerians.
Another, @DedeHydra, blamed the electorate for the current state of affairs, arguing that the comments exposed how far removed the administration was from the struggles of everyday citizens.
@YanaOffycial suggested the remarks reflected poorly on the administration as a whole, while PoliticalPhoenix argued that small grants for petty trade could not address the broader economic devastation caused by fuel price increases and runaway inflation.
@MrEazzy and DonC also voiced sharp criticism, with the latter arguing that the First Lady’s advice revealed a government that had no meaningful vision for Nigerian youth.
However, not all reactions were negative. One user, @Akikanju, pushed back against the criticism, defending the akara business as one of Nigeria’s most lucrative small-scale ventures with a profit margin of over 50 percent, and argued that many Nigerian youths lacked the drive to explore the opportunities available to them.
“To start Akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn and kuli-kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan, we gave them a grant. We have encouraged Nigerians as best as we could.”
– First Lady Remi Tinubu pic.twitter.com/tnDNJavTH8
— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) June 25, 2026