APC chieftain misinterprets First Lady's small‑business advice

…urges Nigerians to focus on solutions

By Adeola Badru

Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, a senior member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), defended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu against criticism for encouraging Nigerians to start small businesses. He said the First Lady’s remarks were widely misunderstood and were meant to promote economic self‑sufficiency, especially for women and low‑income families.

The comments followed Senator Tinubu’s call for Nigerians, particularly women, to consider petty enterprises such as frying and selling akara and roasted corn as a way to improve their livelihoods.

The remarks sparked mixed reactions on social media, with critics describing them as insensitive and out of touch with the realities of rising inflation, high living costs and unemployment.

In a statement issued yesterday and signed by his media aide, Rasheed Abubakar, Mumuni maintained that the First Lady’s advice was intended to encourage Nigerians to explore businesses that require little start‑up capital.

“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,” he said.

Mumuni explained that many Nigerians living below the poverty line need only modest financial support to set up small businesses that can generate sustainable income.

“The reality is that some poor Nigerians only need a token to start a business and get it right. For some Nigerians, N50,000 or N100,000 is enough to start a business and begin making profits,” he added.

“Those are the category of people the First Lady is referring to. There is no need for unnecessary criticism,” he said.

Mumuni further argued that, beyond encouraging low‑capital businesses, the federal government has introduced several programmes to support medium and large‑scale enterprises.

He cited the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme, the Presidential Palliative Loan Programme, the Bank of Industry intervention funds and financing windows, and the support programmes of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria as evidence of the government’s commitment to empowering businesses of different sizes.

He noted that many Nigerians have already benefited from these interventions, stressing that the programmes cater to entrepreneurs with varying capital needs, from small start‑ups to established businesses.

The APC chieftain said the First Lady’s remarks should not be interpreted as limiting the aspirations of women or dismissing Nigeria’s economic challenges.

“The First Lady’s statement reflects a genuine concern for economic self‑sufficiency among Nigerian women and families,” he said.

“Her emphasis on these ventures stems from the practical reality that accessible, low‑capital business opportunities can provide immediate income and food security for households,” he added.

“This is not a dismissal of women’s capabilities or potential, but rather an acknowledgment of viable pathways that have demonstrably helped many families achieve basic sustenance,” he stated.

The APC chieftain, who is also a renowned security expert, urged Nigerians to distinguish between constructive criticism and what he described as misplaced anger.

While acknowledging that citizens have the right to express differing opinions on government policies, he argued that greater attention should be devoted to tackling the country’s pressing security and economic challenges.

“We must distinguish between constructive criticism and misplaced anger. While opinions on policy direction are valid, channeling our collective energy toward addressing the substantive challenges facing our nation, including widespread insecurity, poverty and hunger, would be more productive. These remain the critical issues requiring urgent national attention and discourse,” he said.

Mumuni also called on Nigerians to engage in solution‑driven conversations that advance national development rather than create unnecessary controversies over well‑intentioned initiatives.

“As a nation, we benefit when we engage in serious, solution‑oriented conversations rather than unnecessary controversy over well‑intentioned initiatives,” he said.

“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,” he added.

He said his intervention was aimed at promoting national unity, encouraging constructive public discourse and ensuring that public conversations remain focused on practical solutions to Nigeria’s economic and security challenges.