Portable Defends First Lady Remi Tinubu’s Advice on Small-Scale Business for Nigerian Women
Nigerian singer Portable has come to the defence of First Lady Remi Tinubu after her recent suggestion that unemployed women should take up small‑scale businesses drew criticism.
Many Nigerians felt the advice overlooked the broader economic challenges facing the country. However, speaking on the Honest Bunch Podcast, Portable argued that the message was simply about making use of whatever opportunities are available rather than staying idle.
He pointed out that there is nothing shameful about starting a modest venture, noting that numerous successful Nigerians were raised by parents who earned a living through petty trading.
“Several families managed to send their children to school with the income from selling food items and everyday goods,” Portable explained. “If you look at many wealthy people in this country, their mothers trained them by selling pepper and roasted corn. When I went to London, I even saw someone selling corn while driving a Benz.”
Portable concluded that the criticism stemmed from a misunderstanding of the First Lady’s intent, which was to encourage self‑reliance and entrepreneurship among women who are currently out of work.
Doris Ijeoma Israel, an entertainment journalist and graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, covers film, music and celebrity culture. She can be reached at doris.ijeoma.israel@example.com.
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