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Tag: Oluremi Tinubu

  • Roasted Corn Seller Retracts ₦2.5 Million Monthly Income Claim, Says It Was “Content”

    A roadside roasted corn seller who recently went viral after claiming she earned ₦2.5 million every month from her business has withdrawn the statement, admitting it was made purely for content.

    The woman made the clarification in a new video shared on social media after her earlier claim generated widespread reactions and debate among Nigerians.

    Vendor admits claim was false

    In the emotional video, the corn seller said she had never earned anything close to the amount she previously mentioned.

    “I’m making ₦2.5 million, yet I’m still standing under the sun? Since I started this corn business, I have never made that kind of money. Nigerians, please help me,” she said.

    She later added, “Make una no vex, na content. I never make that kind of money.”

    Claim sparked nationwide debate

    The vendor first attracted attention after telling an interviewer that she made about ₦2.5 million monthly from selling roasted corn.

    The claim quickly went viral, with many Nigerians questioning whether such earnings were realistic for a roadside business, while others argued that small-scale enterprises could be highly profitable if properly managed.

    The discussion also coincided with recent comments by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu encouraging women to embrace low-capital businesses such as roasted corn vending.

    Mixed reactions online

    Her latest admission has generated fresh reactions across social media.

    While some users criticised her for spreading misleading information, others sympathised with her, suggesting the attention surrounding the viral interview may have become overwhelming.

    Some also speculated that fear of scrutiny or other pressures may have influenced her decision to publicly retract the claim.

    The identity of the vendor and her actual monthly earnings have not been independently verified.

  • Umahi Defends Remi Tinubu, Says ‘My Mother Sold Akara, My Father Was a Farmer’

    Minister of Works David Umahi has defended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu over criticism of her recent remarks encouraging Nigerians to embrace vocational skills and small-scale businesses, saying her advice was genuine and should not be ridiculed.

    Speaking at a public event, Umahi said every Nigerian must develop a strong work ethic, adding that not everyone can pursue the same profession.

    ‘My mother sold akara’

    The minister recalled his upbringing, saying his family earned a living through farming and petty trading before he rose to public office.

    “My mother was selling akara. My mother was a farmer. My father was a farmer. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that having used that to train me, I will continue to farm at their scale or continue to sell akara at their scale,” he said.

    He urged Nigerians not to dismiss practical advice simply because it involves humble beginnings.

    Supports First Lady’s message

    Umahi said the First Lady was encouraging young people to become productive rather than remain unemployed.

    “When our First Lady, our Mother of the Nation, was trying to encourage the youths, we must change our work attitude. Everybody must be working. Everybody must have something to do,” he said.

    He added that developing practical skills remains important for national development.

    “Why do we make joke of every genuine advice? Will everybody be a banker at the same time? So, let us be serious, for once,” he added.

    Responds to Lagos flooding claims

    The minister also rejected claims that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway contributed to the recent flooding experienced in parts of Lagos.

    Responding to comments by Arise Television presenter Rufai Oseni, Umahi said infrastructure experts should be allowed to address technical issues.

    “Leave this profession for us. We, the professors of infrastructure, leave it for us,” he said.

  • Moment Tinubu Playfully Calls First Lady ‘Iya Alakara’ at State House Dinner

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu shared a light-hearted moment on Thursday when he jokingly referred to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu as “Iya Alakara” during the maiden Presidential Press Corps Dinner at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja.

    The remark, which drew laughter from guests, appeared to reference the recent public debate surrounding the First Lady’s comments on small-scale businesses.

    Tinubu jokes about First Lady

    While acknowledging dignitaries at the event, the President introduced his wife with a smile.

    “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, my dear wife, the First Lady, Iya Alakara,” Tinubu said.

    The comment was greeted with laughter from the audience and quickly circulated across social media.

    Remark follows recent controversy

    The President’s joke comes days after the First Lady faced criticism over comments she made during a Renewed Hope Initiative programme, where she encouraged beneficiaries of government grants to consider small businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn and kuli kuli.

    Following the backlash, Oluremi Tinubu clarified that the empowerment programme was not limited to akara sellers but also supports traders dealing in tomatoes, vegetables, pepper and other petty businesses.

    She maintained that the initiative provides grants, not loans, to help small-scale entrepreneurs improve their livelihoods.

    Social media reacts

    Tinubu’s humorous reference has generated mixed reactions online.

    While some Nigerians viewed the moment as a light-hearted attempt to address the ongoing conversation, others argued that the remark came at a time when many citizens continue to grapple with economic hardship and the rising cost of living.

    The Presidential Press Corps Dinner was organised to strengthen engagement between the presidency and journalists covering the State House.

  • Remi Tinubu Defends Empowerment Programme, Says It Supports More Than Akara Sellers

    Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has defended her empowerment programme, saying it is not limited to akara sellers but also supports thousands of petty traders across the country.

    Her remarks come amid public debate over the initiative, with critics questioning whether the programme is sufficient to address the country’s economic challenges.

    ‘It Is Not Only Akara Sellers’

    Speaking about the programme, the First Lady said the intervention was designed to benefit different categories of small-scale traders whose livelihoods depend on daily business activities.

    “It is not only akara sellers. We are also supporting tomato sellers, bole, maize sellers, vegetable sellers, and many other petty traders,” she said.

    She explained that the initiative was created to provide financial support to small business owners and help improve their businesses.

    First Lady Dismisses Criticism

    Responding to criticism surrounding the programme, Remi Tinubu said the beneficiaries appreciate the support they receive and insisted the initiative would continue.

    “I know the beneficiaries appreciate it, and we’re not intimidated by the wrong reports,” she added.

    She maintained that the programme remains focused on empowering vulnerable traders across different communities.

    Programme Sparks Debate

    The First Lady’s comments have generated fresh reactions on social media, with Nigerians expressing mixed opinions about the scope and impact of the empowerment initiative.

    While some welcomed the clarification, others argued that broader economic policies are needed to improve the living conditions of small business owners and other Nigerians.

     

  • My Mother Sold Akara to Train Me, I Hawked Plantains in Jos, Sunday Dare Defends Remi Tinubu

    Presidential aide Sunday Dare has defended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s recent advice encouraging Nigerians to embrace small-scale businesses, saying there is dignity in starting with modest ventures.

    Dare made the remarks while reflecting on his childhood, revealing that his mother sold akara, bananas and oranges to pay for his education, while he hawked plantains in markets in Jos, Plateau State.

    Dare backs First Lady’s message

    According to the presidential aide, the First Lady’s comments were intended to encourage Nigerians to develop entrepreneurial skills and take advantage of opportunities available to them.

    “When you look at the informal sector of our country, its resilience continues to lift this economy. It’s also because of these small-scale entrepreneurs, those that sell akara. You find them predominantly everywhere, including in the North. They are also significant,” he said.

    He added that the message was not about limiting people’s ambitions but encouraging productivity.

    “Our point is that whatever it is, try and do something. Have some level of entrepreneurial skill,” Dare stated.

    Shares personal story

    Dare said his family’s experience shows that small businesses can create opportunities and transform lives.

    “Look at me. Wherever I am today, my mother sold akara. My mother sold bananas. I carried bananas on a tray on my head to markets in Jos, Plateau State. My mother sold oranges, and through that, they were able to train me. What is wrong with that? If that was right 60 years ago, what is wrong with that now?” he said.

    Cites Dangote’s journey

    The presidential aide also pointed to the success story of businessman Aliko Dangote, saying many successful entrepreneurs began with small ventures.

    “It’s about the capital you have. When you grow these small businesses, you start small. Go and read Dangote’s story. He also started like a trader,” Dare said.

    His remarks come days after the First Lady faced mixed reactions over her suggestion that Nigerians could consider businesses such as frying akara or roasting corn as a means of earning a living.

  • VeryDarkMan Mocks Government, Raises Monthly Artisan Support to ₦1.5 Million

    Social media personality VeryDarkMan has announced an increase in his monthly financial support for Nigerians learning vocational skills, raising the fund to ₦1.5 million while criticising the government’s approach to youth empowerment.

    The activist said the decision followed comments he attributed to Nigeria’s First Lady on encouraging small-scale businesses as a means of livelihood.

    VeryDarkMan announces new empowerment fund

    Speaking in a video shared online, VeryDarkMan said he had been supporting Nigerians with funds to help them acquire vocational skills and become financially independent.

    He disclosed that the monthly support would now increase to ₦1.5 million, with six beneficiaries selected every month to learn different trades.

    “I dey give money to people every month so that people will empower themselves but did you hear what the president’s wife said? That people should go and fry akara, fry corn and sell kuli kuli for 2026. These people don’t have any good plans for the youth. At least now you people will value me,” he said.

    He added, “So now I go carry the money up go N1.5m for six people to learn handwork every month end. You’ll tell me the work you want to do and they go share the money to una. Abeg make una learn handwork o. The good plan government have for you na akara and kuli kuli.”

    Video generates reactions

    The announcement quickly attracted reactions across social media, with many users praising the increase in support for vocational training and artisans.

    Others focused on his criticism of the government’s youth empowerment strategy, reigniting conversations about unemployment, entrepreneurship and job creation in Nigeria.

     

  • “To Start Akara Business Doesn’t Take Much,” Oluremi Tinubu Tells Nigerians

    Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has defended the Federal Government’s empowerment programmes, saying grants provided to small business owners are designed to give Nigerians hope amid the country’s economic challenges.

    Speaking during a recent engagement, the First Lady said the administration had chosen to provide grants rather than loans to support petty traders and vulnerable citizens.

    ‘We Are Giving Hope’

    Sen. Tinubu said starting small businesses such as frying akara or roasting corn requires limited capital and can provide a pathway to financial independence.

    “We’re trying to give hope. To start akara business doesn’t take much; to start roasting corn doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant,” she said.

    She added that the government had continued to support Nigerians through initiatives within its capacity.

    “What is within our hands, I have given, and I keep giving,” she said.

    Renewed Hope Empowerment Programme

    The First Lady’s remarks come under the Renewed Hope Initiative, which has distributed grants to women and small business owners in several states.

    Recent interventions include financial support for women in Benue, Ekiti and Kaduna states, where beneficiaries received grants to strengthen their small businesses without repayment obligations.

    The programme focuses on women, petty traders and other vulnerable groups engaged in micro-enterprises.

    Mixed Public Reactions

    The comments have generated mixed reactions on social media.

    Supporters described the grants as meaningful support for grassroots entrepreneurs struggling with the high cost of living.

    Critics, however, argued that the assistance is insufficient given rising inflation, high fuel prices and the broader economic pressures facing many households and businesses.

    Some questioned whether small-scale grants alone can adequately address Nigeria’s current economic challenges.

    Government Defends Reform Agenda

    The Tinubu administration has consistently maintained that its economic reforms, including fuel subsidy removal and exchange rate adjustments, are necessary for long-term economic stability despite the short-term hardship experienced by many Nigerians.

    Sen. Tinubu has repeatedly urged citizens to remain patient while the government continues implementing programmes aimed at reducing poverty and promoting economic inclusion.

  • Oluremi Tinubu Says Nigerians Will Benefit From Ongoing Infrastructure Projects

    Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has expressed confidence in the country’s future, saying ongoing infrastructure investments by the federal government will deliver lasting benefits for Nigerians.

    Speaking in a video circulating online, she acknowledged concerns over the rising cost of air travel but noted that expensive flight fares are a global challenge and not peculiar to Nigeria.

    First Lady Addresses Travel Costs

    Senator Tinubu said air transportation costs have increased in several countries, including the United States, prompting the administration to focus on expanding alternative transportation systems.

    According to her, the government is investing in coastal transport routes and rail infrastructure to improve connectivity and ease movement across the country.

    “Nigeria is such a great country and now you can see airports emerging, so I know you will say, ‘Oh, the flights are so expensive,’” she said.

    “Everywhere in the world, even in America, flights are expensive. And that’s why Mr President is doing the coastal routes, not only coastal routes, even trying to have rail lines.”

    Government Continuing Rail Projects

    The First Lady stated that the current administration remains committed to completing rail projects initiated by previous governments.

    She said continuity in infrastructure development is necessary to achieve long-term national growth.

    “And so I know the previous administration started the rail line and, you know, we continue. We continue building,” she added.

    Optimistic About Nigeria’s Future

    Senator Tinubu expressed optimism that ongoing investments in transportation and other sectors would eventually improve the lives of Nigerians.

    She said the country has enormous potential and urged citizens to remain hopeful about the future.

    “Nigeria has a huge future ahead of it and by the grace of God, very soon we all will be beneficiaries of the success of what Nigeria will become,” she said.

  • Oluremi Tinubu Promises Cars to APC Women Leaders Amid Rising Insecurity

    Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, on Wednesday inaugurated the Tinubu Torchbearers (TTB), a grassroots mobilisation group aimed at strengthening women’s participation in the ruling All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections.

    The event took place at the State House Banquet Hall in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, and attracted APC women leaders and stakeholders from across the country.

    Eight Buses Donated to New Group

    During the inauguration, the First Lady donated eight coaster buses to support the group’s mobilisation and outreach activities in promoting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

    The programme was organised under the leadership of APC National Women Leader, Mary Alile Idele, and was attended by the wife of Vice President Kashim Shettima, alongside other party leaders.

    Vehicles Promised to APC Women Leaders

    Oluremi Tinubu also announced that brand-new vehicles would be provided to APC women leaders in Abia, Anambra, Bauchi, Osun and Oyo states.

    She stated that the vehicles would be registered in the names of the beneficiaries, making them their personal property.

    The First Lady urged party women leaders to actively engage with communities and promote the achievements of the current administration from the grassroots level.

    Call for Grassroots Mobilisation

    Addressing participants, she encouraged women to strengthen the party’s presence across wards and polling units nationwide while supporting efforts to expand women’s involvement in politics and governance.

    According to her, grassroots mobilisation remains critical to sustaining the administration’s programmes and connecting government policies with local communities.

    Mixed Reactions Trail Launch

    The inauguration has generated reactions on social media, with some critics questioning the timing of the initiative amid ongoing concerns over insecurity and recent school abductions in parts of the country.

    Supporters, however, described the programme as an empowerment initiative designed to strengthen women’s political participation and improve party structures ahead of future elections.

    The APC said the Tinubu Torchbearers platform would focus on national development, political mobilisation and increasing women’s representation in the political process.

  • Oluremi Tinubu Speaks on Political Career, Calls Herself ‘Silent Worker’

    Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has reflected on her political journey, describing herself as a silent worker who focuses on results rather than public praise for her achievements.

    She made the remarks during a recent interview with journalists, where she responded to questions about her political record and contributions to governance.

    Tinubu Highlights Senate Record

    Oluremi Tinubu pointed to her years in the National Assembly, noting her service as Senator representing Lagos Central for three consecutive terms.

    She said her political journey has been defined by service and consistency, stressing that she prefers not to celebrate her own achievements publicly.

    “I wasn’t going to address it, but now that you’re putting me on the spot. I have ran elections. I am the first woman to be in the Senate three times. I don’t sing my own praise, but I am a silent worker,” she stated.

    Focus on Service, Not Recognition

    The First Lady added that her approach to leadership has always been centred on delivering impact rather than seeking recognition.

    She maintained that her contributions in public service speak for themselves through her years in elected office.

    Oluremi Tinubu served as Senator for Lagos Central before assuming the role of First Lady following the election of President Bola Tinubu.