'The First Lady Is Right' — New Commentary Defends Tinubu's Akara, Corn Advice

Amid the storm of backlash that greeted First Lady Oluremi Tinubu's recent advice urging Nigerians, particularly women, to embrace small-scale ventures such as akara frying and roasted corn selling, a fresh opinion piece has emerged in support of her comments.

The commentary, titled "The First Lady Is Right Before We Start Importing Corn Roasters Too," argued that the First Lady's message reflects an important economic and developmental reality that many Nigerians are too quick to dismiss in the heat of public sentiment.

According to the writer, the prevailing criticism against the First Lady's advice fails to consider the wider implications of Nigeria's overdependence on foreign goods, its weak local productive base, and the need for citizens to embrace entrepreneurship at every level of the economy.

The piece pointed out that countries that have built strong economies over the years did so by encouraging their citizens to engage in productive activities, no matter how small, while also gradually scaling up small businesses into bigger enterprises.

It argued that the disdain for small-scale ventures such as akara frying, roasted corn selling, tailoring, and other artisanal trades is one of the reasons many Nigerians remain stuck in the search for white-collar jobs that the economy cannot adequately provide.

The commentary warned that if Nigerians continued to dismiss small-scale local enterprises, the country could soon find itself importing virtually every consumable item, including the equipment and tools used by petty traders, thereby worsening the country's foreign exchange and economic challenges.

The writer noted that several Nigerians, including university graduates, professionals, and even individuals from privileged backgrounds, have built sustainable livelihoods and even thriving businesses from such humble beginnings, contrary to the prevailing narrative that dismisses such ventures.

The piece urged Nigerians to view the First Lady's advice in the context of the broader conversation about self-reliance, economic empowerment, and the need to support small and medium enterprises as critical drivers of national development.

It maintained that beyond the political dimensions of the controversy, the underlying message was a call for Nigerians to embrace productive activity, dignity of labour, and the value of building wealth from the ground up.

The writer, however, acknowledged the legitimate concerns raised by critics about the rising cost of living, weak purchasing power, insecurity, and other economic challenges affecting the operations of small businesses in the country.

The piece called on the government to back its messaging with concrete policies that support small and medium enterprises, including improved access to credit, lower input costs, stable electricity supply, and an enabling business environment.

It also urged the political class to be more sensitive in its messaging, particularly during a period of economic hardship, while also encouraging the citizens to be more receptive to messages that promote productive engagement and self-reliance.

The commentary recalled that throughout history, small-scale enterprises have served as the foundation of major economies, with many global brands emerging from humble roots, and called for a national mindset shift that values productivity and innovation at every level.

It noted that the negative response to the First Lady's comments, while understandable in the context of the country's current economic mood, should not be allowed to obscure the deeper truth in her message.

The writer argued that the success stories of women who have built successful businesses from akara and roasted corn ventures, expanded into restaurants, food chains, and even multinational enterprises, deserve to be highlighted as part of the national conversation.

The piece concluded by calling for a more balanced approach to the discussion, one that recognises both the validity of the First Lady's advice and the urgent need for the government to address the structural challenges undermining the productivity and welfare of Nigerians.

The opinion piece has added a new dimension to the ongoing public debate over the First Lady's comments, which had earlier triggered widespread criticism on social media and other platforms from Nigerians who described the advice as insensitive and out of touch with the realities on the ground.

The development underscores the deep divisions within the Nigerian public over the responses of political leaders and their families to the country's prevailing economic challenges, with the debate likely to continue in the coming days.