The Presidency has come out to defend remarks by the wife of the president, Senator Remi Tinubu encouraging Nigerians to embrace small businesses, saying there’s nothing wrong in starting small.
Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, gave the defence during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Mic On on Sunday.
According to him, even Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, began as a trader before building his business empire.
He said the informal sector remains a major support for the economy because of the resilience of small-scale entrepreneurs across the country, including those selling items such as akara and other everyday goods.
Dare explained that the First Lady’s message was that Nigerians should try to do something and develop some level of entrepreneurial skill.
He added that his own background reflected the value of small trade, noting that his mother sold akara, bananas and oranges, and that he once carried bananas on his head to markets in Jos, Plateau State, while his parents used the proceeds to train him.
He argued that there was nothing wrong with encouraging such beginnings, especially since many successful people started small.
According to him, business growth often begins with limited capital, and he pointed to Dangote’s early experience as a trader as an example of how small enterprises can grow into major ventures.
He said, “So when you look at the informal sector of our country, which is, you know, its resilience continues to drive this economy, it is also because of these small-scale entrepreneurs, those that sell Akara, those that sell, because you find it predominantly everywhere, and also in the North, you know, they’re also significant.
“And her point, you must not miss her point. Her point is that, whatever it is, try and do something, have some level of entrepreneurial skill. Seun look at me, wherever I am today, my mother sold Akara. Wherever I am today, my mother sold bananas. I carried bananas on a tray on my head to markets in Jos, Plateau State. My mother sold oranges, and through that they were able to train me.
“What is wrong with that? If that was right 60 years ago, what is wrong with that now? Because it’s about what capital you have. When you grow these small businesses, you start small. Go and read Dangote’s story, where he started from. He also started like a trader. So the point she is making is, whatever it is, be engaged in some kind of enterprise.”
Dare’s remarks followed reactions that greeted comments by the First Lady, who recently encouraged low-income Nigerians to explore small-scale businesses as a means of earning a living amid the country’s economic hardship.
Mrs Tinubu gave the advice after hosting the wives of the 36 state governors in Abuja, where she highlighted empowerment programmes and financial assistance provided through her office to support vulnerable Nigerians.
She explained that the support comes in the form of grants rather than loans, allowing beneficiaries to establish businesses without the pressure of repayment.
She said the aim was to offer hope and noted that starting an akara business or roasting corn does not require much money. She also clarified that the assistance given through her office was not a loan but a grant.
“We’re trying to give hope, and to start an akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn… somebody even said about grants, you see, they’re saying that kulikuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant,” she said.
The First Lady added that her office would continue to implement empowerment initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods and encouraging self-reliance among Nigerians.
