Saturday, June 27, 2026 - Media personality and Arise News anchor, Ayo Mairo-Ese, has openly condemned First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for suggesting that impoverished Nigerians, particularly women, should resort to petty trading like frying akara (bean cakes), roasting corn, or making kuli-kuli (peanut cakes) to achieve economic independence.
The controversy stems from a newly emerged, viral video of a
recent press briefing where the First Lady defended her administration's
economic relief initiatives. In the footage, Mrs. Tinubu championed
micro-grants as tools to help low-income citizens set up these small-scale food
businesses.
Reacting to the broadcast on-air during a morning program,
Mairo-Ese echoed the sentiments of many disgruntled Nigerians, labeling the
First Lady's suggestions as deeply insulting to the dignity of Nigerian women
in 2026.
The broadcaster further challenged the political class,
demanding to know if the First Lady or any of her prominent associates could
point to a single member of their own households who built a successful life
out of frying akara or roasting corn on the streets.
She said;
‘’I think
there are many things wrong with this assertion by the First Lady. The first
thing is that it almost seems as if you are watching a video from 1960…There is
a place in our society for small business owners, micro, small and medium-scale
enterprises, but we are looking at a Nigeria of 2026. We are looking at Nigeria
in the context of where the rest of the world is talking about cutting-edge
technology
Is the first
lady aware that women now run multi-billion empires across the world? That
businesses like Akara, Akamu, yes in rural areas will suffice, but if we are
talking about empowering women in modern-day Nigeria, let us talk about
industrialization. That is the engine of a modern-day economy. And when you
talk about that, you are then looking at the rippled effect on job creation,
contribution to the GDP, and the like.
If this is
the thinking in Aso Villa, then there is a problem ooo!!! That you are looking
at empowerment in 2026 for the Nigerian woman who you are going to give you
votes come election, and you are talking about that they are not being
creative? We have moved past that.
How many
people in the families that they come from have successes of themselves, really
and truly, in today's Nigeria, by selling the things that she has
mentioned?
I do think
quite frankly that it is about time we stop insulting the intelligence of
Nigerian women by saying the best they can do is to be selling this or that''
Watch video of Ayo speak below
“How many people in your family are successful from akara, kuli-kuli business?” Media personality AYO MARIO-ESE blasts REMI TINUBU over her recent remarks pic.twitter.com/b8EvhboZdz
— DAILY POST 🇳🇬 (@dailypost_ng) June 27, 2026
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