The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has appealed to Afrobeats superstars Ahmed ‘Asake’ Ololade, David ‘Davido’ Adeleke and Damini ‘Burna Boy’ Ogulu to use their money to empower poor Nigerians amid economic hardship under her husband, President Bola Tinubu. 

Ms Tinubu made the remarks while inspecting the National Community Food Bank project for North Central in Lokoja on Saturday. 

She urged the singers to emulate Senegalese-American musician Akon, whom she praised for his extensive charitable work.

The first lady noted that buying exotic cars is good, but maintained that the singers can still establish foundations to assist the struggling population. 

“I think it is the right time to start helping those who need help in the country. I want to appeal to our young ones in the entertainment industry. I have mentioned it before, and I will use Akon, a music icon who does a lot of great charity work. 

“The Burna Boy of this world, Asake and Davido, we want to see you with one foundation or the other helping the poor with your money. Good cars are good. A Maybach is, and a Rolls-Royce is good, but you can still help,” Ms Tinubu said. 

Speaking further, Ms Tinubu disclosed that Nigeria’s economic burden is too much for the current administration to carry alone, adding that Burna Boy, Asake and Davido can financially support small-scale business owners.

“The burden on the government is huge, and you can still help. There are pepper, okra, vegetable, melon, akara, and kuli kuli sellers,” she added. 

Ms Tinubu’s latest comments came two weeks after she came under heavy public criticism for stating that the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr Tinubu is offering grants to women to start roasted corn, kulikuli, and akara businesses.

In an apparent reference to the controversial remark, the first lady insisted that akara “is delicious,” adding that her office helped a graduate in Abuja who ventured into the business to expand it to the point where he now employs 12 people.