Arise TV's Ayo Mairo-Ese Blasts Remi Tinubu Over 'Akara' Business Counsel

Arise News anchor, Ayo Mairo-Ese, has publicly criticized Nigeria's First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, for her recent remarks suggesting that economically disadvantaged Nigerian women should pursue petty trading activities like frying akara (bean cakes), roasting corn, or making kuli-kuli (peanut cakes) to achieve financial autonomy. This contention arose from a recently surfaced viral video of a press briefing where Mrs. Tinubu advocated for micro-grants as a means to assist low-income citizens in establishing these small-scale food businesses.

Responding to the broadcast during a morning television program, Mairo-Ese echoed the frustrations of many Nigerians, describing the First Lady's suggestions as a profound insult to the self-worth of Nigerian women in the context of 2026. The broadcaster further challenged the political class, questioning whether the First Lady or any of her prominent associates could identify a single family member who had built a successful life solely from frying akara or roasting corn on the streets.

Mairo-Ese articulated her disapproval, stating, "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."

The media personality continued to emphasize her points, reiterating the need for a more progressive vision for women's empowerment. She added, "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."