The Presidency defended the First Lady’s ‘akara, kulikuli’ remark, saying there was no harm in starting small

The Presidency has defended statements by the president’s wife, Senator Remi Tinubu encouraging Nigerians to embrace small businesses, saying there is no harm in starting small.

Special Adviser to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, defended himself during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on Mic On, Sunday.

According to him, the richest person in Africa, Aliko Dangote, started his career as a trader before building his business empire.

He said the informal sector remains the main support of the economy due to the resilience of small-scale entrepreneurs across the country, including those who sell goods such as akara and other everyday items.

Dare explained that the First Lady’s message was that Nigerians should try to do something and develop some level of entrepreneurial skills.

He added that his background reflects the value of petty trading, recalling that his mother sold akara, bananas and oranges, and that he once carried bananas on his head to the market in Jos, Plateau State, while his parents used the proceeds to train him.

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He believes that there is no harm in encouraging such a start, 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 businesses can grow into large businesses.

He said, “So when you look at the informal sector in our country, whose resilience continues to drive this economy, this is also due to the small-scale entrepreneurs, those who sell Akara, those who sell, because you find them especially everywhere, and also in the North, you know, they are also significant.

“And the point is, you can’t miss the point. What it means is, whatever it is, try and do something, have entrepreneurial skills. Seun look at me, wherever I am today, my mother sells Akara. Wherever I am today, my mother sells bananas. I carry bananas on a tray on my head to the market in Jos, Plateau State. My mother sells oranges, and through that they can train me.

“What’s wrong with that? If that was true 60 years ago, what’s wrong with it now? Because it’s about the capital you have. When you develop this small business, you start small. Read Dangote’s story, where he started. He also started like a trader. So the point he was making was, whatever it is, get involved in some kind of business.”

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 receiving the wives of 36 state governors in Abuja, where she highlighted the empowerment and financial assistance programs provided through her office to support vulnerable Nigerians.

He explained that the aid comes in the form of grants and not loans, so that beneficiaries can set up businesses without the pressure of repayment.

He said the goal is to provide hope and noted that starting an akara or corn roasting business does not require a lot of money. He also explained that the assistance provided through his office was not a loan but a grant.

“We are trying to give hope, and to start an akara business you don’t need a lot of money. To start roasting corn… some even say about grants, you know, they say that kulikuli doesn’t need a lot of money. We don’t give them loans, we give them as grants,” he said.

The First Lady added that her office will continue to implement empowerment initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods and promoting self-reliance among Nigerians.