‘Good cars are good; a Maybach is good. Rolls-Royce is good, but still you can still help. The burden on the government is huge.'

Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, is on a mission to empower petty traders across the country. And she has some very pointed words for wealthy Nigerians, including Afrobeats stars, who she says can be doing more.

Addressing a gathering in Lokoja, Kogi State, during the launch of the national community food bank, Mrs. Tinubu called out to these high-rolling Nigerians to lend a helping hand to petty traders. She specifically mentioned Burna Boy, Davido, and Asake, urging them to set up foundations to help those in need.

‘We are a generous people. In fact, I was watching an interview with someone who sells akara. He now has 12 workers under him, doing very, very well. So our people should never despise jobs.’

Mrs. Tinubu also commended the Renewed Hope Initiative for donating ₦100 million to empower another 2,000 petty traders in Kogi State. Each of these traders will receive ₦50,000 to help recapitalise their businesses.

The First Lady expressed her enthusiasm over the success of these petty traders, who have been quick to adapt to the challenges of the economy. ‘And I’m glad that the women who are beneficiaries, they got the idea because I saw them bringing their tray of different food items, very small items, to welcome me today, and I think the message is quite received no matter how people want to turn it around.’

The donation from the Renewed Hope Initiative is part of the government's efforts to empower small-scale traders across the country. And Mrs. Tinubu made it clear that this is just the beginning.

‘Nigeria is a great country. We have a lot of wealthy people. But our priorities are different. And I think it’s high time we started helping those who need help in the country.

‘I want to appeal to our young ones in the entertainment industry. I’ve mentioned it before, and I will use Akon, a music icon who does a lot of great charity work,’ she said.

But for Mrs. Tinubu, the task at hand is clear: help the petty traders and uplift Nigeria’s struggling economy.

The First Lady has been leading the charge in empowering local businesses across the country. She has been urging other wealthy Nigerians to follow suit, citing the success of the Renewed Hope Initiative and other such projects.

While some people may dismiss her words as mere rhetoric, Mrs. Tinubu’s passion and dedication to uplifting Nigeria’s economy are genuine.

And it’s clear that she won’t rest until the petty traders and small-scale business owners are empowered to succeed.