Sunday Dare defends Remi Tinubu’s small business advice, saying self-reliance and Nigeria’s informal economy remain vital for surviving economic hardship.
Presidential spokesman Sunday Dare has defended Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu following widespread criticism over her recent remarks encouraging Nigerians to embrace small-scale businesses as a way of coping with the country’s economic challenges.
The comments by the First Lady sparked intense debate across social media platforms after she advised struggling Nigerians to consider low-capital ventures such as selling akara, roasting corn and producing kuli-kuli.
While some Nigerians viewed the advice as practical and realistic, others argued that it failed to address the deeper economic difficulties confronting millions of citizens.
Responding to the controversy, Sunday Dare insisted that many critics misunderstood the message the First Lady intended to communicate.
According to him, her remarks were not meant to diminish the country’s economic realities but rather to encourage self-reliance and entrepreneurship, especially at a time when many households are searching for additional sources of income.
Speaking during a recent podcast, Dare explained that Nigeria’s informal economy has remained one of the country’s strongest economic pillars for decades.
He noted that millions of Nigerians depend on small businesses and petty trading to support their families, making the sector an essential contributor to employment and economic resilience.
According to Sunday Dare, the values behind the First Lady’s comments revolve around hard work, dignity of labour and the willingness to start with whatever resources are available.
He argued that countless successful entrepreneurs began with modest businesses before expanding into larger enterprises.
“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.”
The presidential aide further explained that Nigeria’s informal sector continues to absorb a significant percentage of the workforce, particularly among young people and women.
From roadside food vendors and artisans to traders in local markets, the sector has long provided opportunities for individuals with limited startup capital.
To reinforce his argument, Dare shared a deeply personal story about his childhood, revealing that his own educational journey was made possible through his mother’s petty trading activities.
He said her determination and hard work enabled the family to overcome financial challenges.
According to him, his mother sold akara, bananas and oranges to support the family, while he also participated by carrying trays of bananas to markets in Jos, Plateau State.
Those humble beginnings, he said, eventually created opportunities that shaped his future career.
“Look at me. Wherever I am today, my mother sold akara. 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.
“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.”
The remarks have generated mixed reactions nationwide. Supporters of the First Lady believe her advice reflects the reality that many Nigerians have relied on entrepreneurship and informal trading for generations.
They argue that starting with small businesses has lifted countless families out of poverty and remains a practical option for many people.
However, critics maintain that while entrepreneurship is valuable, government policies should also focus on creating more formal employment opportunities, improving access to affordable loans, reducing inflation and lowering the cost of doing business.
Some believe economic reforms should provide an environment where small businesses can grow more easily into medium and large enterprises.
The debate has once again highlighted the important role of Nigeria’s informal economy.
Across the country, millions of people earn daily incomes through market trading, food vending, transportation services, tailoring, farming and other micro-enterprises that require relatively small amounts of capital to begin.
For many economic experts, strengthening the informal sector while expanding access to credit, infrastructure and business support could help improve livelihoods and stimulate broader economic growth.
As discussions continue online, Sunday Dare has maintained that the First Lady’s comments should be viewed as encouragement for resilience rather than an attempt to dismiss the economic struggles many Nigerians currently face.
He believes the culture of honest work and entrepreneurship has long been part of Nigeria’s social and economic fabric and remains relevant in today’s challenging environment.
Read also: Yoruba union challenges Remi Tinubu to sell akara, kuli-kuli in Surulere
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