Nigerian Singer Portable Defends First Lady’s Small‑Business Advice

Portable, a popular Nigerian street‑pop singer, said Nigeria’s First Lady Remi Tinubu’s urging of unemployed women to start petty‑trade ventures – such as frying akara and selling roasted corn – was misunderstood. He argued that small‑scale trading can be profitable, recalling seeing a corn seller in London who drove a Benz, and noting many wealthy Nigerians were raised by parents who ran similar businesses.

In the same interview, Portable recounted his own upbringing, revealing he sold sachet water to fund his schooling because his family could not sponsor him. He said, “I no finish school; the time wey I dey go school, I sell pure water, I no see anybody to sponsor me,” and added that he now studies at Kwara Poly while supporting his siblings.