Akara and Kulikuli: Why Empowering Women at the Grassroots is Real Economic Policy

Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has drawn criticism for her Akara and Kulikuli Women Empowerment Programme, part of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI). Detractors have cynically and patronizingly questioned the program's focus on traditional small-scale food businesses like akara (bean cakes) and kulikuli (groundnut snacks), asking if these are the only options for women or if it's merely a political stunt.

“

I know they have been talking. I said akara; it’s not only akara. We also have tomato, boli, pepper and vegetable sellers in the market. We will continue to empower them. I know all those who are affected will appreciate it, and we are not intimidated by all those wrong reports.

However, proponents argue that these criticisms miss the fundamental purpose of the RHI program. It is designed not as a symbolic gesture but as a deliberate effort to formalize, finance, and scale the businesses of millions of Nigerian women operating in the informal food-processing sector. Akara and kulikuli are highlighted as significant micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that employ and feed millions, enabling women to fund school fees, rent, and healthcare in communities across Nigeria.

Responding to the critiques, Senator Tinubu has defended the program, emphasizing that the funds provided are grants, not loans. She stated that the RHI aims to empower women involved in various small businesses, including those selling tomatoes, boli (plantain), and pepper, not just akara vendors. During a visit to Jigawa State, she inaugurated the Abubakar Maje Haruna Hall and extended RHI grants of N50,000 to 2,000 petty traders to recapitalize their businesses.

“

My chest would burn from the smoke, and customers complained the akara was too oily.

The impact of the program was evident in an encounter with Mama Blessing Ojo, a 47-year-old akara seller in Abuja. Previously using a charcoal stove and reusing oil, she faced challenges with smoke and customer complaints. After receiving a grant that provided her with a stainless-steel gas fryer, an oil filtration unit, and packaging materials, her daily profit increased from ₦2,800 to ₦7,500. This enabled her to pay her daughter's WAEC fees without borrowing, demonstrating the tangible economic benefits of the empowerment initiative.

“

Now I fry faster, use less oil, and supply three hostels in Gwarimpa in Abuja. My daily profit went from ₦2,800 to ₦7,500. I paid WAEC fees for my last daughter without borrowing.