What About Kuli-Kuli?’ Solomon Dalung Trolls First Lady Remi Tinubu Over Akara, Corn Business Idea

Split image of former Minister Solomon Dalung in sunglasses and a mock signboard reading 'REMI TINUBU DEPARTMENT OF ROASTED AND APPLIED CORN' with students in a hallway

Former Minister of Sports, *Barrister Solomon Dalung*, is trending after taking a swipe at First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu over her recent call for Nigerians to consider small food businesses like akara, kuli kuli, and corn as economic opportunities.

Dalung shared a viral meme on Facebook with the caption: “What about kuli-kuli?”

The Meme That Sparked Reactions

The image shows a mock signboard that reads: “REMI TINUBU DEPARTMENT OF ROASTED AND APPLIED CORN” above the entrance of a modern hallway filled with students.

Beside it is a photo of Dalung himself, wearing sunglasses and a green traditional outfit, seemingly reacting to the joke.

The post is a direct jab at the First Lady’s recent empowerment remarks, which many Nigerians interpreted as advising poor citizens to start micro food businesses amid rising cost-of-living concerns.

Background: Remi Tinubu’s ‘Akara, Kuli-Kuli, Corn’ Comment

During a recent public engagement, Senator Remi Tinubu suggested that Nigerians, especially women and youth, could leverage local food ventures such as frying akara, making kuli-kuli, or roasting corn as viable income sources.

Her comments drew mixed reactions online. While some praised it as “grassroots empowerment,” others criticized it as out of touch with Nigeria’s current economic realities of inflation, fuel costs, and unemployment.

Dalung’s Known Style: Satire + Politics

Dalung, who served as Minister of Youth and Sports under the Buhari administration from 2015 to 2019, is known for his blunt, often satirical take on government policies.

His “kuli-kuli” post quickly went viral, with many Nigerians using it to meme the First Lady’s suggestion. Comments ranged from laughter to criticism of how political leaders frame poverty solutions.

Public Reaction

1. The Memers: “Department of Roasted and Applied Corn” is now circulating widely on X, Facebook, and WhatsApp.

2. The Critics: Some Nigerians argue that the First Lady’s advice trivializes structural economic problems.

3. The Defenders: Others say small food businesses have always been a legitimate survival strategy for many families.

Final Word: Whether you see it as satire or policy critique, Dalung’s “What about kuli-kuli?” post has become the latest flashpoint in Nigeria’s ongoing conversation about hardship, empowerment, and how leaders talk about poverty.