Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has appealed to leading Afrobeats stars, including Davido, Burna Boy and Asake, to establish charitable foundations and use part of their wealth to support struggling Nigerians. She said successful entertainers have an opportunity to transform lives by investing in vulnerable communities instead of focusing solely on luxury lifestyles.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu has called on some of Nigeria’s biggest music stars to play a greater role in addressing poverty by creating charitable foundations that provide support for vulnerable Nigerians.
Speaking during a public engagement, the First Lady urged entertainers to complement their personal success with meaningful social investments capable of improving lives across the country.
Addressing popular musicians including Davido, Burna Boy and Asake, Senator Tinubu said purchasing luxury cars and living comfortably is not wrong, but encouraged them to devote part of their fortunes to philanthropy.
She appealed to the artistes to unite under charitable initiatives that would provide assistance to petty traders, struggling families and young Nigerians seeking economic opportunities.
The First Lady also referenced the story of a university graduate who turned to selling akara after failing to secure white-collar employment and eventually built a business that now employs several workers, using the example to emphasise dignity in entrepreneurship and community support.
The remarks come amid ongoing public conversations about wealth, celebrity influence and philanthropy in Nigeria.
Many Nigerian entertainers already operate charitable projects and scholarship initiatives, while others regularly provide humanitarian assistance through donations and community outreach.
The First Lady’s appeal seeks broader and more institutionalised support through foundations capable of sustaining long-term social impact.
Senator Tinubu stressed that influential celebrities possess enormous capacity to inspire hope beyond music by investing directly in education, small businesses, healthcare and poverty alleviation programmes.
She encouraged successful Nigerians across different sectors—not only musicians—to see philanthropy as an important responsibility that accompanies success.
The First Lady’s comments have generated widespread discussion online, with supporters praising the appeal for greater philanthropy while others debated the role of government and private citizens in addressing poverty. Regardless of the reactions, her message has renewed conversations about how Nigeria’s wealthiest public figures can contribute to national development beyond entertainment.