Abayomi Nurain Mumuni, a prominent member of the All Progressives Congress, has come to the defense of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu regarding the backlash over her recent suggestions on small-business engagement. Mumuni asserts that the public response misinterpreted her message, which aimed to foster financial independence for struggling families and women.
The controversy emerged after the First Lady encouraged Nigerians to pursue modest ventures like selling snacks to bolster their daily income. Many social media users viewed these comments as tone-deaf given the current economic climate and high inflation. Conversely, Mumuni, through his media representative Rasheed Abubakar, explained that her words were meant to highlight the potential of low-capital startups to provide immediate financial relief.
Mumuni emphasized that for many, a small investment of 50,000 to 100,000 naira could be transformative. He highlighted existing government initiatives such as the Presidential Conditional Grant Scheme and support from the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria as evidence that the administration remains committed to supporting diverse business sizes. He urged citizens to shift their focus from misplaced frustration to constructive national dialogue regarding the country’s broader economic and security hurdles.
