Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has defended recent remarks by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, urging Nigerians not to dismiss what he described as sincere advice simply because it has become a subject of public ridicule.
Speaking on the controversy surrounding the First Lady’s comments, Umahi reflected on his own humble upbringing, saying his parents relied on modest livelihoods to provide for the family.
“My mother was selling akara, my father was a farmer. But it doesn’t necessarily mean that because they used that to train me, I will continue to farm at their scale. Why do we make jokes about any genuine advice? Will everybody be a banker at the same time?” he said.
The minister argued that every profession and trade has value, stressing that the fact that one’s parents engaged in small-scale businesses or farming should not be viewed as a limitation but rather as a foundation for greater achievements.
His remarks come amid widespread public debate over the First Lady’s recent comments encouraging Nigerians to embrace agriculture and productive ventures as a means of improving livelihoods, with critics questioning the practicality of such advice in the face of the country’s economic challenges.
Umahi maintained that genuine guidance should be evaluated on its merit rather than ridiculed, adding that economic growth depends on citizens embracing diverse occupations instead of expecting everyone to pursue the same career path.
The minister’s intervention has further fuelled the national conversation over self-reliance, economic opportunities and the role of public officials in addressing the hardships facing millions of Nigerians.
