Following the Renewed Hope Initiative’s second-quarter meeting with state governor wives on Wednesday at the State House in Abuja, Tinubu addressed State House correspondents.
News Channel 247 posted a video of her comments on Friday.
She made this statement while promoting the Renewed Hope Initiative’s efforts to provide grants and other interventions to needy Nigerians.
She claims that the initiative’s recipients received grants rather than loans so they could launch enterprises.
“We want to inspire hope, and it doesn’t cost a lot of money to establish an Akara business. Someone even mentioned that kuli kuli doesn’t require much to begin roasting maize. We provided them a grant rather than a loan.
Thus, we have done everything in our power to uplift Nigerians. “I have given what is in our hands, and I continue to give,” she remarked.
According to the First Lady, the program has also aided in social investment, healthcare, agriculture, and education.
She claimed to have contributed N500 million to combat starvation, N1 billion for breast cancer treatments, and N2 billion to combat tuberculosis.
“I recall donating for tuberculosis. I donated N2 billion after learning of the high number of TB cases. I donated a billion dollars to breast cancer. I donated half a billion for food malnutrition.
She said, “So those are the things we’ve been doing and making sure that whatever this government is trying to do, it will see the light of day.”
According to Tinubu, the project has also supported agribusiness and social investment programs, offered scholarships, and trained people in ICT.
Despite Nigeria’s economic difficulties, she advised its citizens to maintain optimism.
“The typical man is meant to have hope, but the narrative has actually altered to confront him. Therefore, I agree with Mr. President’s statement that this is the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“That’s how we renew our hope, you know, and that’s what I have to tell Nigerians,” she stated.
However, the First Lady’s comments quickly sparked a backlash on social media, with many Nigerians accusing her of trivializing the financial struggles that regular people face.
The video demonstrated “exactly how disconnected Nigeria’s ruling class has become from the reality of ordinary citizens,” according to user @ADCVanguard_.
“The First Lady is empowering people with akara, corn, and kuli-kuli, while an ordinary citizen with limited resources is equipping people to build thriving careers in cybersecurity,” said another user, @ireteeh, drawing a comparison between the program and private sector initiatives.
“Nigerians are in big trouble,” wrote a person going by the handle Nefertiti (@firstladyship). The folks are weary of running despite the fire on the mountain.
Nonetheless, other social media users, particularly on X, stood up for the First Lady, claiming that promoting these companies to Nigerians was perfectly acceptable.
Akara is “one of the most lucrative businesses in Nigeria,” according to user @Akikanju1568901, who also mentioned that “akara sellers sent many kids… to universities, built houses, bought cars.”
“There’s dignity in labor… these are our local snacks!” commented @PemiOladapo, another user. People ought to launch it and grow it!
However, a user named @TossynBankz_ contended that the criticism was directed at timing rather than the companies themselves.
“No one is making fun of kuli-kuli, roasted maize, or akara. These companies are trustworthy. The issue is that Nigerians want more jobs, a stronger economy, and cheaper pricing. The user commented, “Telling people to start selling akara in this situation just feels like the government doesn’t understand what people are going through.”
