The Director General of Relax, Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria (RTIFN), Ahmed Bala, has defended the recent comments made by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu on small-scale businesses, saying her remarks have been widely misunderstood and unnecessarily turned into a political issue.

Mrs. Tinubu made the remarks on Wednesday while speaking with journalists after the second-quarter meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative with the wives of state governors at the State House in Abuja.

Speaking on the initiative's activities, the First Lady explained that the programme provides grants—not loans—to vulnerable Nigerians to help them establish small businesses and improve their means of livelihood.

"We're trying to give hope, and to start akara business doesn't take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kuli kuli doesn't take much. We didn't give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant.

"So we've encouraged Nigerians as best as we could. What is within our hands, I have given, and I keep giving," she said.

Her comments, particularly the reference to ventures such as frying akara and roasting corn, sparked widespread reactions on social media, with some critics accusing her of trivialising the country's economic difficulties.

Responding to the criticism, Bala said the First Lady's message was intended to encourage productivity, entrepreneurship and self-reliance rather than diminish the struggles of unemployed Nigerians.

According to him, Senator Oluremi Tinubu was simply reminding citizens that honest work deserves respect, regardless of the nature of the job.

"What Senator Oluremi Tinubu is saying is simple: if you don't have a job, create one. There is dignity in labour. No honest means of livelihood should be looked down upon," Bala said.

He argued that many Nigerians who criticise such advice are often willing to take on difficult and physically demanding jobs abroad without hesitation.

"There is a generation that will cross the Sahara Desert, risk the Mediterranean Sea or the Atlantic Ocean in search of opportunities abroad. Many of them sweep streets, wash dead bodies in mortuaries, work as caregivers in nursing homes and perform all kinds of difficult jobs overseas without shame. Yet, the same people criticize the First Lady for encouraging entrepreneurship at home," he stated.

Bala maintained that the First Lady's comments should be viewed as a call to action rather than a political statement.

"The era when people could simply call one or two influential contacts to raise money for house rent is fading away. The economy cannot continue to sustain a culture of dependence. Nigerians must embrace productivity, innovation and enterprise," he added.

The RTIFN Director General further stressed that national development requires active participation from citizens, saying government alone cannot create prosperity without individual effort.

"Nation building is everyone's responsibility. Every individual must contribute through hard work, creativity and enterprise. That is how successful economies are built," he said.

Drawing comparisons with countries such as China and Singapore, Bala argued that their economic transformation was driven by a strong work ethic, entrepreneurship and respect for honest labour.

He urged Nigerians to focus less on political debates and more on creating opportunities for themselves through skills acquisition, innovation and small businesses.

According to him, every legitimate occupation contributes to national development and deserves respect.

"The First Lady's message is about encouraging self-reliance, not diminishing anyone's struggles. Rather than politicising her comments, we should encourage every Nigerian to become productive, because the future of our country depends on the willingness of all of us to work and build together," he said.