The First Lady Was Misunderstood

The recent criticism of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for comments that encouraged small‑scale businesses highlights a key lesson in public communication. I believe her remarks have been widely misunderstood; she was advocating entrepreneurship rather than dismissing the economic difficulties Nigerians face.

Honest work carries dignity. Throughout Nigeria, numerous professionals, entrepreneurs, and families have been sustained or educated through income from selling akara, roasted corn, kuli‑kuli, and other small‑scale enterprises. Today, many Nigerians still earn a respectable living from such ventures. Promoting entrepreneurship, particularly when formal employment opportunities are scarce, is both practical and praiseworthy.

Yet, effective leadership communication requires more than a sound message. It involves knowing what to say, how to say it, when to say it, and the most appropriate medium through which to say it. These four factors often decide whether a message motivates or provokes unwarranted controversy.

The First Lady holds one