Remi Tinubu: You can start an Akara or Kuli-Kuli business with little capital

The first lady Oluremi Tinubu has asked Nigerians to be optimistic amid the country’s economic woes by urging people to engage in petty trade which does not need huge capital.

Addressing the issues related to empowerment of Nigerians, First Lady Tinubu said that trade involving sales of akara, roasted corns, peanuts, and kuli-kuli could provide for a good source of income with minimum startup capital.

“We’re trying to give hope, and to start an akara business doesn’t take a lot of money; to start roasting corn, somebody even said something about groundnuts; you see they are saying that kuli-kuli doesn’t take much,” she said.

The First Lady explained that her office has been supporting beneficiaries through grants rather than loans to make it easier for them to establish small businesses.

“We didn’t give them a loan, we gave it to them as a grant, so we encourage Nigerians as best as we could. What is within our hands, I have given and I keep giving,” she added.

Mrs. Tinubu also highlighted several intervention programmes funded by her office, including ₦2 billion for tuberculosis treatment, ₦1 billion for breast cancer initiatives and ₦500 million to combat malnutrition.

She said her office has also invested in agriculture, social intervention programmes, education, scholarships, ICT training and support for vulnerable groups.

According to her, the current administration remains committed to funding initiatives capable of improving the welfare of Nigerians.

She linked her message of hope to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, saying the government is determined to restore optimism and improve the lives of citizens.

“The average man is supposed to have hope, so I like the idea that Mr President said this is the Renewed Hope Agenda, and we have to renew our hope, and that’s what I have to tell Nigerians,” she said.