Tinubu aide defends First Lady’s support for small traders
The Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, has spoken out in defense of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu after criticism of her recent empowerment initiatives for micro-traders. He argued that the backlash against the focus on akara and kulikuli sellers overlooks the broader impact of her interventions. Olusegun highlighted various programmes led by the First Lady, including support for healthcare, women’s empowerment, and military widows. He also criticised social media critics for not understanding the importance of Nigeria’s informal economy.
What we know
- Dada Olusegun described the criticism of Oluremi Tinubu’s empowerment of micro-traders as a “performative circus of selective amnesia.”
- He cited donations of ₦1bn each to the National Cancer Fund for cervical cancer screening and for tuberculosis diagnostic equipment in Abuja in 2025.
- Olusegun referenced the disbursement of ₦250,000 to 1,709 widows and orphans of fallen military personnel in 2023, and ₦200,000 business grants to persons living with disabilities nationwide.
- The Renewed Hope Initiative partnered with the Tony Elumelu Foundation to give ₦50,000 grants and equipment to 18,500 women across Nigeria.
- He argued that supporting small-scale traders strengthens the informal sector, which he said accounts for over 50% of Nigeria’s GDP and over 80% of employment.
