‘Don’t Just Buy Luxury Cars, Help the Poor’ – Oluremi Tinubu Tells Burna Boy, Davido

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Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on award-winning Nigerian music stars Burna Boy, Davido and Asake to channel more of their wealth towards helping the less privileged, urging them to establish charitable foundations and expand support for vulnerable Nigerians rather than focusing solely on acquiring luxury cars.

The First Lady made the appeal on Saturday while speaking at the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme in Lokoja, Kogi State.

She said wealthy entertainers and other affluent Nigerians have a responsibility to support vulnerable citizens and complement government efforts to tackle poverty.

Drawing inspiration from Senegalese-American singer Akon, whom she described as a global music icon with a strong record of humanitarian service, Oluremi Tinubu challenged Nigeria’s biggest entertainers to emulate his example by institutionalising their charitable activities and extending greater support to the poor.

“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.

“They make the Burna Boys of this world, the Asakes, Davido, all of them; we want to see you with one foundation or the other, helping the poor with your money.”

She acknowledged that owning luxury vehicles is not in itself a bad thing but maintained that genuine success should also be reflected in acts of generosity towards those facing economic hardship.

“Good cars are good, a Maybach is good, a Rolls-Royce is good, but still, you can help the people,” she added.

The First Lady further defended her earlier remarks encouraging Nigerians to embrace small-scale enterprises, saying businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn and selling vegetables remain honourable and sustainable means of earning a living, particularly in difficult economic times.

“There are pepper sellers, there are vegetable sellers, there are okra sellers, melon sellers, akara sellers. Akara is delicious, I can tell you that,” she said.

To reinforce her position, Oluremi Tinubu recounted the story of a university graduate in Abuja who, after failing to secure a white-collar job, ventured into selling akara. She said her office discreetly supported the young entrepreneur to expand the business, which has since grown to employ 12 people.

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

However, the First Lady’s remarks quickly stirred debate online, with many Nigerians pointing out that some of the entertainers she mentioned have long been associated with philanthropic activities.

Davido, whose real name is David Adeleke, is widely recognised for his annual donations to orphanages and charitable organisations across Nigeria through his foundation and birthday fundraising initiatives, with hundreds of millions of naira distributed to support vulnerable children and other charitable causes.

Burna Boy has also been credited with supporting educational and community development initiatives, including the renovation of abandoned public schools and interventions in higher institutions, in addition to other humanitarian projects aimed at improving the lives of underserved communities.

The First Lady’s comments have since generated widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians supporting her call for greater philanthropy while noting that Davido and Burna Boy have long been involved in charitable causes.

Others viewed her remarks as a broader appeal for celebrities and other wealthy Nigerians to institutionalise their philanthropy and deepen support for vulnerable Nigerians, even as the debate over the role of public figures in addressing poverty continues.