Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has defended First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s recent advice encouraging Nigerians to embrace small-scale businesses and entrepreneurship, insisting that there is dignity in earning a living through honest work, regardless of how modest the venture may be.
Dare made the remarks during an interview in which he responded to criticisms that trailed the First Lady’s comments urging Nigerians to consider engaging in businesses such as selling akara and other petty trading activities to improve their livelihoods amid prevailing economic challenges.
The presidential aide argued that the First Lady’s message had been widely misunderstood, explaining that her intention was to encourage Nigerians to develop entrepreneurial skills and take advantage of available economic opportunities rather than remain idle.
According to him, the country’s informal sector has continued to play a vital role in sustaining millions of households and supporting Nigeria’s economy despite prevailing economic difficulties.
“When you look at the informal sector of our country, its resilience continues to lift this economy. It’s also because of these small-scale entrepreneurs, those that sell akara. You find them predominantly everywhere, including in the North. They are also significant,” Dare said.
He maintained that countless Nigerians depend on micro and small-scale enterprises for their daily survival, adding that such businesses contribute significantly to employment generation and economic activity across the country.
The presidential spokesman noted that the First Lady’s comments were intended to inspire self-reliance and encourage Nigerians to acquire entrepreneurial skills that could provide sustainable sources of income.
“Our point is that whatever it is, try and do something. Have some level of entrepreneurial skill,” he stated.
To illustrate his point, Dare recounted his personal upbringing, revealing that his family’s survival depended largely on petty trading carried out by his mother.
According to him, his mother sold akara, bananas, and oranges to raise funds for the family’s upkeep and to ensure that her children received an education.
He disclosed that as a young boy, he also participated in the family business by hawking bananas in markets across Jos, Plateau State.
“Look at me. Wherever I am today, my mother sold akara. 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,” he recalled.
Dare said he sees nothing shameful about engaging in petty trading, stressing that many successful Nigerians emerged from humble backgrounds where parents relied on small businesses to support their families.
“What is wrong with that? If that was right 60 years ago, what is wrong with that now?” he asked.
According to the presidential aide, honest labour, regardless of its scale, should be respected because it provides legitimate income while helping families meet essential needs such as education, healthcare, and food.
He argued that entrepreneurship has historically been one of the most reliable pathways to economic advancement, particularly in developing countries where access to formal employment may be limited.
Dare further explained that every successful business begins with modest capital and gradual growth, urging Nigerians not to underestimate the value of starting small.
He pointed to the story of Africa’s richest businessman, Aliko Dangote, as an example of how successful entrepreneurs often begin with relatively modest commercial activities before expanding into major business enterprises.
“It’s about the capital you have. When you grow these small businesses, you start small. Go and read Dangote’s story. He also started like a trader,” he said.
The presidential aide argued that entrepreneurship should not be judged by the size of the initial investment but by the discipline, consistency, and determination required to grow a business over time.
According to him, many globally successful entrepreneurs began with limited resources before building large enterprises through perseverance and innovation.
His comments come amid ongoing public debate over the First Lady’s recent advice encouraging Nigerians to embrace self-employment and small businesses as a way of improving their economic circumstances.
The remarks generated mixed reactions across social media and political circles, with critics arguing that such advice does not adequately address the broader economic challenges confronting many Nigerians, including high inflation, unemployment, rising living costs, and declining purchasing power.
Some commentators also contended that government should focus more on creating an enabling environment for businesses through improved infrastructure, access to affordable credit, stable electricity supply, and policies that stimulate economic growth.
Others, however, defended the First Lady’s position, arguing that entrepreneurship has long served as a lifeline for millions of Nigerians operating in the informal economy.
Economic analysts have consistently noted that Nigeria’s informal sector accounts for a substantial share of employment and economic activity, with millions of citizens earning livelihoods through petty trading, food vending, transportation, artisan work, and other micro-enterprises.
Supporters of small-scale entrepreneurship argue that these businesses not only provide income for individual families but also contribute significantly to local economies by creating jobs and expanding commercial activities within communities.
Dare maintained that the conversation should not centre on whether selling akara or other petty trading activities are prestigious occupations, but rather on recognising the dignity of labour and encouraging productive engagement.
According to him, no legitimate business should be looked down upon, provided it enables individuals to earn an honest living and improve their circumstances.
He stressed that many parents across Nigeria continue to make enormous sacrifices through small businesses to educate their children and provide better opportunities for future generations.
Drawing again from his personal experience, Dare said the lessons of hard work, perseverance, and resilience he learned while assisting his mother in business have remained invaluable throughout his career in journalism, public service, and government.
He concluded that entrepreneurship remains an important tool for economic empowerment and encouraged Nigerians, particularly young people, to acquire practical skills, explore business opportunities within their means, and gradually build sustainable enterprises capable of transforming their lives.
According to the presidential aide, regardless of prevailing economic conditions, honest work remains a foundation for personal advancement, and many of today’s successful entrepreneurs began with small ventures similar to those that sustained his own family decades ago.
About the Author
