- Safiu Kehinde
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has charged Nigerian afrobeat singers to set up charity foundations as part of their contribution to helping the poor in the society.
Tinubu gave the charge while speaking at the launching of the National Community Food Bank on Saturday in Lokoja, Kogi State.
The first lady, in her address, appealed to the likes of Burna Boy, Asake, Davido, and many others, to borrow a leaf from legendary singer, Akon, who invested in establishing charity foundations to assist the less privileged,
“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.
“The Burna Boy of this world, Asake, Davido, we want to see you with one foundation or the other, helping the poor with your money.” She said.
While respecting affluential lifestyle, Tinubu stressed the need for them to help the less privileged as well as petty traders.
“A Maybach is good. Rolls Royce is good. But still, you can help. The burden on the government is huge. You can still help. There are pepper sellers, vegetable sellers, okro sellers, melon, sellers, akara, kuli-kuli.” She said.
Meanwhile, Tinubu’s mention of akara had stirred her audience.
The laughter which erupted across the hall stemmed out of the controversies that surrounded the first lady’s advice to Nigerian women on setting up businesses like akara and kuli-kuli production.
While she had since defended her advice, Tinubu would again affirm that the business is lucrative as she recounted how she empowered a graduate who was into akara making business.
“Akara is delicious, I can tell you that. There was once I read an article about a young graduate who said he didn’t get a job.
“He said he sells akara because he didn’t get a job and he is in Abuja. We approached him and equipped him more. He now has 12 workers under him and he’s dong very well.” She said.