Reality TV star Anita Natacha Akide has questioned the effectiveness of cash empowerment schemes often carried out by Nigerian politicians, urging them to focus on long-term economic solutions rather than one-off financial giveaways.
In a strongly worded message shared on social media, the former Big Brother Naija housemate said she found it disappointing that a politician she described as one of the few who built genuine wealth outside politics would support a program that distributes ₦100,000 each to 5,000 people.
According to Tacha, while such initiatives may appear impactful at first glance, they often fail to create sustainable businesses or lift beneficiaries out of poverty.
She argued that small cash grants typically push recipients into already saturated informal trades such as selling pure water, food items, or roadside goods, which rarely generate long-term economic growth.
Tacha suggested that a more effective approach would be to invest the same amount — about ₦500 million — into a smaller number of existing businesses within a constituency.
According to her, supporting 10 to 20 viable businesses with significant capital would enable them to expand operations and create employment opportunities.
“If each of those businesses employs just five more people, that’s over 100 individuals earning steady monthly income rather than receiving a one-off ₦100,000,” she said.
The reality TV personality emphasized that true empowerment should focus on building sustainable systems that can continue generating income and opportunities for years.
Tacha concluded that leaders with business experience have the knowledge and exposure to create transformational economic programs rather than temporary financial assistance.
