First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu has responded to criticism surrounding her recent comments on small-scale businesses, insisting that her administration’s empowerment initiatives remain focused on supporting grassroots entrepreneurs across the country.

Speaking during a public engagement, the First Lady said her reference to akara sellers was only one example among many categories of small business owners benefiting from empowerment programmes.

She noted that traders involved in the sale of tomatoes, boli, pepper, vegetables, and other goods also form part of the target beneficiaries of ongoing interventions aimed at strengthening small-scale enterprises.

Senator Tinubu stated that the objective of the programmes is to support vulnerable groups and improve livelihoods, particularly among women and low-income entrepreneurs.

The First Lady maintained that the beneficiaries of the initiatives appreciate the support being provided and emphasized that criticism and what she described as inaccurate reports would not deter ongoing efforts to empower Nigerians at the grassroots level.

She reaffirmed her commitment to continuing programmes designed to boost small businesses, create economic opportunities, and improve household incomes across the country.