Start Akara, Kuli-Kuli Business — Remi Tinubu’s Advice to Poor Nigerians Sparks Heated Social Media Debate
The First Lady’s call for self-reliance has ignited a firestorm of criticism and support online, as citizens debate the practicality of small businesses amid the country’s economic crisis.
Ejes Gist News reports that the Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has come under intense scrutiny after advising economically disadvantaged Nigerians to start small-scale food businesses like selling akara (bean cakes), roasted corn, and kuli-kuli, stating these ventures require little capital to begin.
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Speaking to State House correspondents following the second-quarter meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative with the wives of state governors in Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu emphasized that the support provided to beneficiaries was in the form of grants, not loans, to help them establish livelihoods without the burden of repayment.
“We’re trying to give hope, and to start an akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kuli-kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant,” she stated.
Start Akara Kuli-Kuli and Corn business Today
First Lady Highlights ₦3.5 Billion in Interventions
In addition to her advice on small businesses, the First Lady detailed several large-scale financial interventions her office has supported to address critical national issues. She disclosed a ₦2 billion donation to combat tuberculosis, ₦1 billion for breast cancer interventions, and ₦500 million to tackle food malnutrition.
She noted that her office has also supported programs in agriculture, education, social investment, and digital skills development to complement the Federal Government’s efforts to improve citizen welfare.
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“The narrative has really changed, has changed to challenge the average man, whereas the average man is supposed to have hope. So I like the idea that Mr President say this is the Renewed Hope Agenda. We have to renew our hope,” she added, urging Nigerians not to lose hope despite the country’s economic difficulties.
Social Media Erupts: ‘Disconnected’ vs. ‘Dignity in Labour’
However, the First Lady’s advice on small businesses triggered a storm of reactions online, with many accusing her of being out of touch with the stark realities facing ordinary citizens.
Critics argue that even these “small” businesses have become prohibitively expensive to start due to the skyrocketing costs of beans, cooking oil, and gas, driven by inflation and the removal of fuel subsidies. One X user, @ADCVanguard_, said the video demonstrated “exactly how disconnected Nigeria’s ruling class has become from the reality of ordinary citizens.”
Others argued that the remarks trivialized deeper issues like unemployment and hunger, with @TossynBankz_ noting, “Nobody is mocking akara, roasted corn, or kuli-kuli. Those are honest businesses. The problem is that Nigerians are asking for a better economy, more jobs, and lower prices. Telling people to start selling akara in this situation just feels like the government doesn’t understand what people are going through.”
Despite the backlash, some Nigerians defended the First Lady, insisting there is dignity in honest labour and that ventures like akara and roasted corn have helped many families build sustainable livelihoods. One user, @Akikanju, defended akara as “one of the most lucrative businesses in Nigeria,” noting that many families have built homes and trained children through the trade.
APC chieftain Joe Igbokwe also weighed in, slamming the critics. In a Facebook post, he berated Nigerians for what he termed an attack on “honest advice.” He wrote, “This generation frightens me to the marrows. An honest advice HE Oluremi Tinubu gave to young Nigerians on how to help themselves has become a tool to abuse and to pour invectives.”
Our source confirmed that starting Akara, Kuli- Kuli and Corn business will take over ₦100,000
