By Solomon OKPO
ABUJA, Presidential aide Sunday Dare has defended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s recent call for Nigerians to embrace small-scale entrepreneurship, insisting there is dignity in honest labour and that many successful people began with modest businesses.
Speaking during an interview, Dare said the First Lady’s remarks were aimed at encouraging Nigerians to develop entrepreneurial skills and take advantage of available opportunities, regardless of how small they may appear.
According to him, Nigeria’s informal sector continues to play a vital role in sustaining the nation’s economy, with countless small-scale entrepreneurs contributing significantly to economic growth.
“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,” he said.
Dare explained that the First Lady’s message was simply a call for productivity and self-reliance.
“Our point is that whatever it is, try and do something. Have some level of entrepreneurial skill,” he stated.
Sharing his personal story, the presidential aide recalled that his mother sold akara, bananas and oranges to support the family and finance his education, while he hawked 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. What is wrong with that? If that was right 60 years ago, what is wrong with that now?” Dare said.
He further argued that many successful entrepreneurs built their fortunes from humble beginnings, citing business mogul Aliko Dangote as an example.
“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 added.
