Angry reactions swept across social media on Friday after First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu advised Nigerians to embrace small businesses.

She had called on Nigerians to consider businesses such as frying akara, roasted corn vending and kuli-kuli productionm among others.

Many users accuse the nation’s leaders of being detached from the country’s worsening economic realities.

The backlash intensified after a video of her remarks circulated online, prompting criticism from Nigerians who said the comments failed to reflect the hardship confronting millions of households.

An X user, @ChucksChukwu, said the First Lady appeared disconnected from the realities of ordinary citizens.

“I hope that you guys are not amazed at Oluremi’s advice — what do y’all expect from a person who lives in an alternate world to say? Remi lives in a 24/7 solar system powered society. Remi is only reminiscing on the world she lived before. Y’all should treat her with kindness,” the user wrote.

Another user, Goodfriday Goodwill, linked the comments to the declining standards of leadership in the country.

“You see why they say in Nigeria olodo uprising is a culture even at the Aso Rock. Shame. Just look at what they gave to first class students in Uniport this year and you’ll know what’s happening in this country from politicians to citizens,” he stated.

Also reacting, Cephas Okarefe accused political leaders of underestimating the plight of Nigerians.

“Isn’t it clear how small-minded these political rulers are? They obviously don’t rate Nigerians. Then the president promoted agbado and now his wife is promoting akara and kuli-kuli,” he said.

The reactions soon spread across social media, with many users arguing that the comments reflected the growing gap between government officials and citizens struggling with inflation, unemployment and rising living costs.

One user, identified as @ADCVanguard_, said the remarks showed “exactly how disconnected Nigeria’s ruling class has become from the reality of ordinary citizens.”

Another user, @TossynBankz_, argued that the criticism was not directed at the businesses themselves.

According to the user, Nigerians are demanding lower prices, more jobs and improved economic conditions, adding that encouraging people to sell akara during difficult economic times appeared insensitive.

The controversy followed remarks by the First Lady after the second-quarter meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative with wives of state governors at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Tinubu said the initiative was designed to support vulnerable Nigerians through grants and social intervention programmes.

“We’re trying to give hope, and to start Akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kuli-kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant,” she said.

The First Lady also highlighted interventions undertaken through the initiative.

According to her, N2 billion was donated to combat tuberculosis, N1 billion was committed to breast cancer intervention, while N500 million was provided to address malnutrition.

She added that scholarships, ICT training, agricultural support and social investment programmes had also been implemented under the initiative.

Despite the criticism, some Nigerians defended the First Lady, insisting that there was dignity in labour and that small businesses had sustained many families over the years.

An X user, @Akikanju1568901, described akara trading as one of the country’s most profitable small businesses, noting that many families had financed education and built homes through the trade.

Another user, @PemiOladapo, argued that local snack businesses remained legitimate means of livelihood and should not be looked down upon.

Tinubu, however, urged Nigerians not to lose hope, saying the Renewed Hope Agenda was intended to restore confidence among citizens.

“The average man is supposed to have hope. We have to renew our hope, and that’s what I have to tell Nigerians,” she said.