Tinubu's aide supports First Lady's call for small businesses

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The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, has backed the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. This comes after many people criticized her advice for Nigerians to start small businesses like selling akara, roasting corn, and making kuli-kuli.

Dare spoke in defense of the First Lady during an interview on Mic On Podcast on Saturday. He shared his background as the child of a small trader. He believes that critics are missing the main point of her message about micro-enterprise, self-reliance, and the value of hard work.

The trouble began on Wednesday during a meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative in Abuja. Tinubu said starting a business selling akara or roasted corn “doesn’t take a lot of money.”

She mentioned that the initiative offers financial grants, not loans, to help those wanting to start such businesses.

Many Nigerians reacted online, saying her comments are “out-of-touch” because of rising food prices, fuel costs, and inflation.

In response to the criticism, Dare said that the informal economy is vital for Nigeria’s strength. He said, “When you look at the informal sector of our country, its resilience continues to lift this economy… You find it predominantly everywhere, and also in the north, they’re also significant.”

He urged people not to look down on small businesses that have helped families escape poverty.

“Look at me. Wherever I am today, my mother sold akara,” Dare shared. “Wherever I am today, my mother sold bananas. I carried bananas in 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 questioned why a way of making a living that worked for older generations should be mocked by today’s youth.

“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,” he explained.

Dare ended by saying that the First Lady’s message is not to keep young people in petty trading forever. Instead, she wants to inspire an entrepreneurial mindset.

“You must not miss her point, her point is that whatever it is, try and do something, have some level of entrepreneurial skill… The point she is making is, whatever it is, be engaged in some kind of enterprise.”