Nigeria’s First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called on Afrobeats superstars Burna Boy, Davido and Asake to lend a helping hand to the people in Nigeria through foundations.
She said that Nigeria has an abundance of wealthy people and called on them to offer assistance to those in need, as “the burden on the government is huge”.
“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,” Mrs. Tinubu said in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Saturday, where she launched the national community food bank.
“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. Ankara is delicious. I can tell you that,” she added.
The first lady also urged Nigerians not to look down on legitimate means of eking out a living.
“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 Zakara 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 programmes in Kogi, Tinubu announced the donation of ₦100,000 to empower another 2,000 petty traders in the state.
She also commended the beneficiaries for their efforts.
“Today in that same spirit, the Renewed Hope Initiative has donated ₦100 million to the First Lady of Kogi State and RHI coordinator to empower another 2,000 petty traders in Kogi State with the sum of ₦50,000 each to recapitalise their existing businesses.
“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,” Mrs. Tinubu added. (Channels)
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