First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Urges Afrobeats Stars to Support the Poor

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has urged top Afrobeats artists like Damini “Burna Boy” Ogulu, David “Davido” Adeleke, and Ahmed “Asake” Ololade to do more for Nigeria’s poor citizens.

Speaking at the launch of a national community food bank in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Saturday, Mrs Tinubu highlighted that personal success is great but influential people should help with social welfare. She mentioned Akon’s charity work as an example and encouraged artists to start foundations to help those living in poverty.

“The burden on the government is huge; you can still help,” Mrs Tinubu said. She pointed out that music stars have the ability to make a big difference. This support could directly help those in micro-enterprises, like selling peppers, vegetables, and local foods.

Mrs Tinubu also talked about the public response to her earlier comments on the informal economy. She stressed the need to appreciate honest work. She shared the story of a young graduate in Abuja who, after struggling to find a formal job, started selling akara (bean cakes). With extra equipment from a support programme, his business grew to employ 12 people. “Once, I read an article about a young graduate who said he didn’t get a job… he now has 12 workers working under him. And he’s doing very, very well,” she noted.

New Initiative Announced

At the event, Mrs Tinubu revealed a new phase of the ‘Renewed Hope’ initiative. She announced a donation of ₦100 million to the office of the First Lady of Kogi State. This fund will provide ₦50,000 grants to 2,000 small traders. The initiative aims to help these business owners boost their operations and gain more economic independence.