Tinubu’s Wife Small Business Advice: APC Chieftain Says Critics Got It Wrong
By: Abudu Olalekan
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, has defended the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, following the backlash over her recent advice urging Nigerians to embrace small-scale businesses to cope with the tough economy.
Besides her official duties, she urged people – women in particular – to try small-scale work like cooking akara or offering roasted corn to help feed their households. A steady income matters when times get tight.
Most people in Nigeria found that remark hard to accept.
People online called her out for seeming unaware – this while prices keep rising, jobs stay hard to find, and families everywhere feel the squeeze. Still, their voices rose louder as daily expenses climbed beyond reach.
Yet Mumuni thinks the critique overlooked what truly matters.
By Saturday evening, Mumuni pushed back through a note handled by his press officer, Rasheed Abubakar. The remarks made by the First Lady, he explained, got reshaped somewhere along the way – pulled from their original frame. What she actually said? It wasn’t what people now claim.
He claimed Senator Tinubu wasn’t making fun of Nigerians or ignoring their struggles. Instead, her message aimed to inspire folks – particularly women and those earning little – to explore tiny ventures needing almost no money upfront.
“I wish to address recent misinterpretations surrounding the First Lady’s advocacy for informal business ventures, particularly in the production and sale of traditional food items such as akara and kulili,” Mumuni said.
It turns out a huge sum isn’t what everyone needs to get started. Instead, just a little cash might be enough to change things around. While some struggle on almost nothing, even modest support helps them take steps forward. Though millions seem necessary, reality shows otherwise for many facing hardship daily.
“The reality is that some poor Nigerians only need a token to start a business and get it right,” he said.
“For some Nigerians, N50,000 or N100,000 is enough to start a business and begin making profits. Those are the category of people the First Lady is referring to. There is no need for unnecessary criticism.”
For plenty of families, turning to small trade means making money each day, Mumuni said – particularly where steady work is hard to find.
Still, he claimed the Tinubu government hasn’t turned its back on midsize or bigger firms, even if certain voices insist otherwise.
He said the Federal Government introduced many aid plans for business owners across various stages.
Among those mentioned was the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme. The Presidential Palliative Loan Programme came up too. Financing options from the Bank of Industry made the list, including their special funding lanes. Support initiatives run by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria were included as well.
These efforts mean the government aims to help small vendors just as much as bigger business owners, Mumuni noted. While one plan targets street sellers, another backs long-standing operators trying to grow. Not every program fits all, yet each reaches someone. Some steps favor new startups; others assist those already running for years. What matters is that aid spreads across levels, he added.
It struck him how plenty of Nigerians had gained from certain programs. Her comment wasn’t meant to shrink women’s dreams, nor overlook the nation’s tough financial strain.
“The First Lady’s statement reflects a genuine concern for economic self-sufficiency among Nigerian women and families,” he said.
What drives her focus on these projects is how they meet real needs – simple businesses that need little money to start yet bring quick earnings. These efforts help families afford meals without delay.
“This is not a dismissal of women’s capabilities or potential but rather an acknowledgement of viable pathways that have demonstrably helped many families achieve basic sustenance.”
Mumuni, a man who knows his way around safety matters, asked people across Nigeria to tell the difference between fair complaints and rage that misses the point. He sees one as useful, the other as noise. Real concern has weight; blind fury just echoes. Clear eyes matter when sorting truth from heat.
It started with him noting people can always challenge what officials say or do. Still, he pointed out how talks about the country need grounding in actual circumstances, balanced views shaping them along the way.
“We must distinguish between constructive criticism and misplaced anger,” he said.
What people think about policy matters, yet focusing that energy on real problems might move things forward. Tackling deep issues like safety, lack of money, and not enough food could make a difference. Instead of just debating, putting effort into these areas may lead somewhere clearer.
“These remain the critical issues requiring urgent national attention and discourse.”
Still, he pushed for Nigerians to lean into talks that fix things rather than stir debate over remarks meant to help. What matters comes through when energy shifts from argument to answers.
“As a nation, we benefit when we engage in serious, solution-oriented conversations rather than unnecessary controversy over well-intentioned initiatives,” Mumuni added.
“I urge Nigerians to examine statements within their full context and redirect our collective focus toward substantive policy discussions that address our most pressing national concerns.”
From his point of view, the move aimed at bringing people together, shifting public talk toward greater care, while holding focus on real fixes for Nigeria’s economy and safety issues.
Olalekan A. Abudu is a seasoned and dedicated News Journalist at REPORTERS ROOM, with over eight years of experience. He specializes in politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial issues. Committed to accuracy and balanced reporting, Olalekan exemplifies the principles of public-interest journalism.
