Akara, Kulikuli debate makes way into varsity exam

A Nigerian university has incorporated the national debate surrounding First Lady Oluremi Tinubu's comments on small-scale businesses into its academic curriculum. Students in the Department of Mass Communication at Prince Abubakar Audu University, Kogi State, were tasked with creating an advocacy advertisement copy titled "Beyond Akara and Kulikuli Empowerment." The assignment required them to identify factors for writing the copy, choose a suitable body style, and sketch the ad with images and text.

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The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has asked you to do an advocacy ad copy with the title, Beyond Akara and Kulikuli Empowerment, with the sole aim of encouraging Nigerian women and youths to embrace small-scale businesses.

The examination question stems from Tinubu's June remarks where she encouraged Nigerian women to engage in low-capital ventures like frying akara and roasting corn. She suggested these businesses could be sustained with grants rather than loans. Her comments, made after a meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative with state governors' wives, quickly drew criticism on social media.

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Beyond Akara and Kulikuli Empowerment

Many Nigerians accused the First Lady of downplaying the severe economic hardship, including rising food prices, inflation, and unemployment. In response, Tinubu defended her statements, clarifying that the Federal Government's empowerment initiatives extend beyond akara sellers to include traders of tomatoes, pepper, vegetables, and roasted plantain. She also pointed to a N100 million grant given to Jigawa State to empower 2,000 petty traders with N50,000 each.

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The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has asked you to do an advocacy ad copy with the title, Beyond Akara and Kulikuli Empowerment, with the sole aim of encouraging Nigerian women and youths to embrace small-scale businesses.