Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has revealed that a graduate who ventured into selling akara after failing to secure employment has expanded the business and now employs 12 workers.

Mrs Tinubu shared the story on Saturday during the launch of the National Community Food Bank in Kogi State, where she also encouraged entertainers and other wealthy Nigerians to support charitable causes and assist vulnerable people.

She cited the example of people engaged in small-scale businesses such as selling pepper, vegetables, okra, melon, akara and kuli-kuli, describing them as viable means of earning a living.

Mrs Tinubu recalled reading about a graduate in Abuja who turned to selling akara after being unable to secure a job.

She noted that her office discreetly provided additional support to help expand the business, adding that the entrepreneur now employs 12 workers and is doing well.

She said, “Akara is delicious. I can tell you that. There was once I read an article about a young graduate who said he didn’t get a job. He said he sells akara because he couldn’t get a job. And he is in Abuja. We approached him, but I didn’t put my name to it. We equipped him more, and now he has 12 workers working under him, and he’s doing very well.”

She also urged popular Nigerian musicians, including Asake, Burna Boy and Davido, to emulate Senegalese-American singer Akon by establishing charitable foundations or expanding their philanthropic efforts to complement government interventions aimed at reducing poverty.

According to the First Lady, although there is nothing wrong with living a luxurious lifestyle, affluent Nigerians should also use part of their wealth to support struggling citizens because the burden on the government remains enormous.

“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, as an example. Asake, Burna Boy, Davido, we want to see you with one foundation or the other, helping the poor with your money. Good cars are good. A Maybach is good, Rolls Royce is good, but still, you can help. The burden on the government is huge. There are pepper sellers, vegetable sellers, there are okro sellers, melon sellers, akara sellers, kuli-kuli sellers.”

The First Lady’s latest remarks come weeks after she advised Nigerian women to embrace small businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli under the Renewed Hope Initiative’s economic empowerment programme. (Saturday Tribune)