A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has provided cash support to widows as part of efforts to encourage entrepreneurship and reinforce First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s advocacy for women’s participation in small-scale businesses.
Speaking during the event held in Ibokun, Obokun Local Government Area of Osun State, on Tuesday, Oyintiloye said the empowerment programme, which coincided with his birthday celebration, was designed to promote self-reliance, uphold the dignity of labour and support women in establishing small businesses.
He dismissed criticisms of the First Lady’s campaign encouraging women to engage in ventures such as selling roasted corn and kulikuli, arguing that there is honour in honest work regardless of its scale.
According to him, small and medium-scale enterprises remain the backbone of economic growth and provide a vital source of income for millions of Nigerian families.
Oyintiloye said those criticising the initiative were motivated by politics rather than the genuine interest of ordinary Nigerians, adding that many successful entrepreneurs began with modest businesses.
“Many people who are successful today started with petty trading, including selling tomatoes and roasted corn. Today, they have transformed their lives and become employers of labour.
“Starting small, as being encouraged by the wife of the President, is far better than engaging in prostitution or other unlawful activities,” he said.
He explained that the cash support for widows in his hometown of Ibokun was intended to demonstrate the importance of entrepreneurship and encourage beneficiaries to become financially independent.
Describing the initiative as a reflection of the biblical teaching in James 1:27, Oyintiloye said caring for widows and vulnerable members of society remains a responsibility for every believer.
He urged the beneficiaries to invest the cash gifts, which ranged from ₦30,000 to ₦50,000, in petty trading and other small businesses capable of improving their standard of living.
