Minister of Works, David Umahi, has defended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu over the backlash that followed her comments encouraging entrepreneurship, saying there is dignity in honest labour regardless of the profession.
Speaking during a public event, Umahi said his mother sold akara while his father was a farmer, insisting that the First Lady’s advice was genuine and should not be misunderstood.
According to the minister, not everyone is destined to work in corporate jobs, stressing that different occupations contribute to national development.
“My mother sold akara and my father was a farmer. The First Lady’s advice is genuine. Everyone won’t be bankers.”
Umahi’s remarks come amid ongoing criticism of the First Lady’s empowerment message, which has sparked widespread debate on social media, with many Nigerians arguing that government policies should focus on creating more employment opportunities rather than encouraging petty trading.
Reactions
@Sholami4: “Politicians lie with ease and you really want to please your superior.”
@B2k_5G: “I no blame una….all of a sudden una parents been dey sell akara before..make una continue 😏😏😡”
@ayokay13: “All their mothers now sold akara or whatever even if that is the case should it still be norm in 2026?”
@kingseriksen: “Once e set. Make una leave this one for me make I mend am well well!”
@Essay007: “Leave your ministry go sell the akara na. Ewu.”
@Whytelion077: “Why didn’t you take up the profession?”
@ayo2olu: “Suddenly everyone mother and grandmothers had sold Akara to train them to become ministers? Same Akara you refused your wife of selling? Ode omo arindin.”
@OkonkwoDavidC1: “What kind of useless and wicked leaders do we have in this country. Why didn’t he empower his daughters and family members to do such business.”
@odims25: “Everyone respects honest labor — akara selling, farming, all of it. But invoking humble roots doesn’t automatically validate advice given from a position miles away from that same struggle today.”