Akara, Corn Roasting, Kulikuli
Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged Nigerians not to lose hope despite the country’s economic challenges, saying her office has continued to support vulnerable citizens through grants, healthcare interventions and empowerment programmes.
Speaking on efforts to cushion hardship, she said, “We’re trying to give hope,” explaining that many small businesses can be started with little capital. She cited ventures such as akara frying, corn roasting and kulikuli production, stressing that beneficiaries received grants rather than loans.
“We didn’t give them a loan. We gave it to them as a grant,” she said, adding that the initiative was designed to encourage Nigerians to become self-reliant. “We’ve encouraged Nigerians as best as we could. What is within our hands, I have given, and I keep giving.”
The First Lady also highlighted her support for healthcare, revealing that she donated ₦2 billion to tackle tuberculosis after learning about the high number of cases, ₦1 billion for breast cancer intervention and ₦500 million to address food malnutrition.
She noted that her office has also invested in agriculture, social intervention programmes, education, scholarships and ICT training, adding, “We’re still open. Still want to do more.”
Acknowledging the hardship facing many Nigerians, Tinubu said, “The narrative has really changed… to challenge the average man. Whereas the average man is supposed to have hope.”
She aligned her message with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying, “We have to renew our hope. And that’s how we renew our hope.” She concluded with a message of encouragement to Nigerians: “They don’t give up… We are a very proud nation.”
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