Remi Tinubu to Davido, Burna Boy, Asake: Use your wealth to lift the poor

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has appealed to some of the country’s biggest music stars, including Davido, Burna Boy and Asake, to channel part of their wealth into charitable initiatives aimed at supporting poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

Speaking on the need for greater private-sector and individual support for social welfare, Tinubu said wealthy entertainers could make a significant impact by establishing foundations dedicated to empowering struggling citizens, even as they enjoy the rewards of their success.

She stressed that philanthropy should go hand in hand with affluence, noting that luxury lifestyles should not overshadow the responsibility to uplift others.

“I want to appeal to our young people in this country. Burna Boy, Asake and Davido, we want to see you come together under one foundation to help the poor with your money,” she said.

“The Maybachs and Rolls-Royces are good, but you can still help. The burden on the government is huge.”

To underscore the impact of targeted intervention, Tinubu recounted the story of a university graduate who turned to selling akara in Abuja after failing to secure formal employment.

According to her, she quietly facilitated support for the young entrepreneur without revealing her identity, enabling him to expand his business.

“There was once I read an article about a young graduate who said he didn’t get a job. He said he sells akara because he couldn’t get a job. We approached him, but I didn’t put my name to it. We equipped him more. He now has 12 workers working under him, and he’s doing very, very well,” she said.

Tinubu said the success story demonstrates how relatively small interventions can create jobs and improve livelihoods.

She also cited Senegalese-American music star Akon as an example of a celebrity who has invested significantly in charitable causes across Africa, urging Nigerian entertainers to emulate such efforts.

“I will use Akon, a music icon, who does a lot of great charity work. Then the Burna Boys of this world, Asake, all of them, Davido. We want to see you with one foundation or the other, helping the poor with your money,” she added.

Tinubu further encouraged Nigerians to embrace entrepreneurship, saying there is dignity in every legitimate business, including petty trading.

“There are pepper sellers, vegetable sellers, okra sellers, melon sellers, akara and kuli-kuli sellers. Akara is delicious, I can tell you that,” she remarked.