Nigerian street-hop singer Habeeb Okikiola has defended remarks by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, amid ongoing criticism over her advice encouraging unemployed women to embrace small-scale businesses.
key Highlights:
- Portable defends First Lady: Singer Habeeb Okikiola defended Oluremi Tinubu, saying her advice on small-scale businesses was misunderstood.
- Self-employment message: The First Lady encouraged unemployed women to consider businesses such as frying akara or selling roasted corn as a source of income.
- Dignity in petty trading: Portable argued that many successful Nigerians were raised by mothers who earned a living through small-scale trading.
- Personal example: He claimed he met roasted corn sellers in the United Kingdom who owned luxury cars, illustrating that small businesses can be financially rewarding.
- Mixed public reaction: While some Nigerians supported the message of entrepreneurship and self-reliance, others insisted the government should prioritize creating formal employment opportunities.
The First Lady recently sparked debate after suggesting that women without jobs could consider ventures such as frying akara (bean cakes) or selling roasted corn as a means of earning a living.
Reacting during an appearance on The Honest Bunch Podcast, Portable argued that many Nigerians had misinterpreted the First Lady’s message. According to the singer, there is dignity and financial potential in petty trading, stressing that several successful Nigerians were raised by parents who made a living through such businesses.
He said many wealthy families owe their success to mothers who sold everyday items like pepper and roasted corn to support their households.
Sharing a personal experience, Portable claimed he encountered corn sellers in the United Kingdom who owned luxury vehicles, saying the experience reinforced his belief that small businesses can be highly profitable.
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“Nigerians misunderstood what Remi Tinubu meant. If you look at many wealthy people in this country, their mothers trained them by selling pepper and roasted corn. When I went to London, I even saw someone selling corn while using a Benz,” he said.
Portable’s comments have since generated fresh reactions on social media, with some users agreeing that entrepreneurship should be encouraged regardless of scale, while others maintained that many Nigerians expect government policies to create more formal employment opportunities rather than relying on informal businesses.
The debate follows widespread public criticism of the First Lady’s earlier remarks, which many Nigerians described as out of touch with the country’s current economic realities, while supporters argued that she was merely encouraging self-reliance and entrepreneurship.
