Akara, Kulikuli Debate Becomes University Examination Question


 

By Abel Chigozie 


The controversy surrounding First Lady Oluremi Tinubu's remarks encouraging Nigerians to embrace small-scale businesses such as akara frying and kulikuli production has found its way into the classroom, becoming part of a university examination.


The question appeared in the Second Semester 2025/2026 Advertising Copy Writing (MCM 214) examination for students of the Department of Mass Communication, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at Prince Abubakar Audu University, Kogi State.


According to the examination paper, students were asked to develop an advocacy advertisement titled "Beyond Akara and Kulikuli Empowerment", based on the First Lady's call for Nigerian women and youths to embrace small-scale businesses.


The question required candidates to identify four key factors to consider when writing the advertisement, list three body copy styles, justify the most suitable style, and produce a sketch of the advertisement using both text and illustrations. The question carried 30 marks.


The examination paper gained public attention after it was shared on social media by a Facebook page identified as Northern Nigeria.


The debate originated in June when Senator Oluremi Tinubu, while speaking after a meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative with wives of state governors in Abuja, encouraged women to venture into businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn and producing kulikuli, describing them as low-capital enterprises that could thrive with grants rather than loans.


Her comments sparked widespread reactions on social media, with many Nigerians arguing that they downplayed the country's worsening economic challenges, including inflation, unemployment and rising food prices.


Responding to the criticism, the First Lady clarified that the Federal Government's empowerment programmes extend beyond akara and kulikuli sellers to include traders dealing in tomatoes, pepper, vegetables, roasted plantain and other small businesses. She also disclosed that the Federal Government had provided ₦100 million to the Jigawa State Government to support 2,000 petty traders, with each beneficiary expected to receive ₦50,000 to boost their businesses. 

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