Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has appealed to Afrobeats stars Burna Boy, Davido, and Asake to use their wealth to support poor Nigerians through charitable foundations.
She made the appeal while speaking at the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme in Lokoja, Kogi State, where she said wealthy Nigerians should complement government efforts by helping vulnerable people across the country.
Before mentioning the musicians, Tinubu pointed to Senegalese-American singer Akon as an example of an entertainer known for his philanthropic work.
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.
She added:
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.
The First Lady said there was nothing wrong with enjoying the rewards of success, but encouraged successful entertainers to also invest in improving the lives of struggling Nigerians.
Good cars are good. A Maybach is good. Rolls-Royce is good, but still you can help. The burden on the government is huge.
Tinubu also urged Nigerians not to look down on legitimate means of earning a living.
She shared the story of a graduate who started selling akara after failing to secure employment and later expanded the business with support, eventually employing 12 people.
During the event, the Renewed Hope Initiative donated ₦100 million (approx. UGX 236 million) to support 2,000 petty traders in Kogi State, with each beneficiary receiving ₦50,000 (approx. UGX 118,000) to recapitalize an existing business.