Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has urged Afrobeats stars, Burna Boy, Davido and Asake to establish charitable foundations and use their wealth to support poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
She said the country is blessed with many wealthy individuals but stressed that more people should commit their resources to helping those in need, noting that the government alone cannot shoulder the burden.
Mrs. Tinubu made the appeal on Saturday in Lokoja, Kogi State, while launching the National Community Food Bank.
“Nigeria is a great country. We have a lot of wealthy people. But our priorities are different. And I think it’s high time we started helping those who need help in the country.
“I want to appeal to our young ones in the entertainment industry. I’ve mentioned it before, and I will use Akon, a music icon who does a lot of great charity work.
“The Burna Boys of this world, Asake, all of them, Davido. We want to see you with one foundation or the other, helping the poor with your money.
“Good cars are good; a Maybach is good. Rolls-Royce is good, but still you can still help. The burden on the government is huge.
“You can still help. There are pepper sellers. There are vegetable sellers. There are okra sellers, melon sellers, akara, kulikuli. Akara is delicious. I can tell you that,” she said.
The First Lady also encouraged Nigerians not to look down on honest means of earning a living.
Recalling the story of a graduate who turned to selling akara after failing to secure employment, she said the young man was quietly supported and has since expanded his business.
“And there was once I read an article about a young graduate who said he didn’t get a job. And he said he sells akara because he couldn’t get a job and he’s in Abuja.
“We approached him, but I didn’t put my name to it. We equipped him more. He now has 12 workers working under him, and he’s doing very, very well. So our people should never despise jobs,” she said.
Speaking on empowerment initiatives in Kogi State, Mrs. Tinubu announced that the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) had donated ₦100 million to the Office of the First Lady of Kogi State and the State’s RHI Coordinator to support 2,000 petty traders with ₦50,000 each to recapitalise their businesses.
She commended the beneficiaries for embracing the Initiative, saying she was encouraged to see many of them displaying the small-scale businesses they had built.
“And I’m glad that the women who are beneficiaries, they got the idea because I saw them bringing their tray of different food items, very small items, to welcome me today, and I think the message is quite received no matter how people want to turn it around,” she added.
