Nigeria's First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has appealed to some of the country's biggest music stars, including Davido, Burna Boy and Asake, as well as other wealthy Nigerians, to invest more in charitable work for poor and vulnerable people.

She made the appeal during the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme in Lokoja, Kogi State, where she said the government alone cannot meet the growing welfare needs of citizens because the burden on public resources is very heavy.

According to her, successful entertainers and business people should establish foundations and other organised charity initiatives that will provide direct support to people struggling with poverty.

She pointed to Senegalese-American singer Akon as an example of a celebrity widely recognised for humanitarian work and encouraged Nigerian stars to follow a similar path.

While acknowledging that there is nothing wrong with enjoying luxury or buying expensive cars, she stressed that wealthy individuals should also give back to society by supporting petty traders, market women and other low-income earners.

The First Lady also encouraged Nigerians not to look down on small businesses, sharing the story of a university graduate who started selling akara after failing to secure a white-collar job.She said the Renewed Hope Initiative later supported him to expand his business, which now employs several workers.

As part of the event, she announced a ₦100 million donation through the Renewed Hope Initiative to empower 2,000 petty traders in Kogi State, with each beneficiary expected to receive ₦50,000 to strengthen their existing businesses.

She said the National Community Food Bank Programme is designed to improve food security and provide support for vulnerable Nigerians across the country.