Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has said the government is focused on restoring hope among Nigerians, adding that small businesses such as akara production do not require huge capital to start.

She made the statement while highlighting the empowerment and social intervention programmes carried out through her office, noting that the initiatives were designed to support citizens.

According to her, businesses like akara making, roasted corn, and kuli-kuli production require relatively small capital, making them accessible opportunities for individuals seeking to start a means of livelihood.

“Akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start a roasted corn business or somebody even said kuli-kuli doesn’t take much,” she said.

“We didn’t give them a loan, we gave it to them as a grant,” Tinubu added.

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Tinubu explained that beneficiaries of the empowerment programmes received grants rather than loans, stressing that the support was aimed at helping Nigerians grow their businesses without repayment pressure.

She also disclosed that her office has supported various health and social causes, including interventions targeted at tuberculosis, breast cancer, and food malnutrition.

“I remember giving for TB, when I heard there’s so much TB cases, I gave 2 billion.

“To breast cancer, I gave a billion. To food malnutrition, I gave half a billion

“These are the things we have been doing and making sure that whatever this government is trying to do, it will see the light of the day,” she stated.

She further highlighted other initiatives in agriculture, education, and technology, including scholarship programmes and ICT training carried out in partnership with relevant agencies.

“We have to renew our hope and that’s how we renew our hope, you know” she said.