NEWS
“…To Start Akara Business Doesn’t Take Much; To Start Roasting Corn Doesn’t Take Much…“ — Senator Oluremi Tinubu Defends Grant Initiative, Says Government Is Restoring Hope Through Small Business Support
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to empowering Nigerians through grant-based support for small businesses, stressing that the initiative is aimed at restoring hope and encouraging self-reliance among citizens.
Speaking on the government’s efforts to support vulnerable Nigerians and aspiring entrepreneurs, the First Lady explained that the intervention focuses on providing grants rather than loans, thereby easing the financial burden on beneficiaries and enabling them to start or expand small-scale businesses without the pressure of repayment.
Highlighting the simplicity of many entrepreneurial ventures, Senator Tinubu emphasized that even modest financial assistance can make a meaningful difference in helping individuals establish sustainable sources of income.
According to her, “We’re trying to give hope. To start akara business doesn’t take much; to start roasting corn doesn’t take much.
“We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant.
“We have encouraged Nigerians as best as we could. What is within our hands, I have given, and I keep giving,“ she said.
The First Lady noted that the grant programme reflects the administration’s determination to empower ordinary Nigerians, particularly those at the grassroots, by providing them with opportunities to become financially independent through small-scale enterprises.
Her remarks come amid ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to promote economic inclusion, reduce poverty, and stimulate entrepreneurship through targeted empowerment programmes. By providing grants instead of loans, the initiative seeks to remove barriers that often discourage low-income entrepreneurs from pursuing business opportunities.
Senator Tinubu maintained that the government’s intervention is driven by compassion and a desire to give Nigerians renewed hope, while encouraging beneficiaries to make productive use of the support to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.