A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, has condemned criticisms trailing the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, recent statement urging Nigerians to get involved in small scale businesses.
It was reports that Tinubu had come under heavy backlash after she encouraged Nigerians, particularly women, to consider engaging in petty businesses such as frying and selling akara and roasted corn to improve their livelihoods.
Sharing his thoughts on the matter in a statement issued on Saturday and signed by his Media Aide, Rasheed Abubakar, Mumuni opined that the First Lady was misunderstood.
He argued that Tinubu’s message was intended to encourage economic self sufficiency among Nigerians, especially women and low income families, through 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 argued that many Nigerians living below the poverty line only require modest financial support to establish small businesses capable of generating sustainable income.
“The reality is that some poor Nigerians only need a token to start a business and get it right. For some Nigerians, ₦50,000 or ₦100,000 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,” he said
Mumuni added that beyond encouraging low capital businesses, the Federal Government had also introduced several programmes to support medium and large scale enterprises.
According to him, initiatives such as the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme, the Presidential Palliative Loan Programme, the Bank of Industry intervention funds and financing windows, as well as support programmes of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, demonstrate the government’s commitment to empowering businesses of different sizes.
He noted that many Nigerians had already benefited from the interventions, stressing that the various programmes cater for entrepreneurs with different levels of capital needs, from small start ups to established businesses.
According to him, the First Lady’s statement should not be interpreted as limiting the aspirations of women or dismissing the country’s economic challenges.
“The First Lady’s statement reflects a genuine concern for economic self sufficiency among Nigerian women and families. 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.
“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.
He urged Nigerians to distinguish between constructive criticism and what he described as misplaced anger.
“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.
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