The recent remarks by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, suggesting that women can start businesses such as akara frying, roasted corn vending, kuli-kuli production and bead making with little capital have sparked intense public debate.
While many Nigerians interpreted the statement as evidence that the government has lowered its economic expectations for citizens, others argue that her comments have been misunderstood and taken out of context.
The backlash is understandable. At a time when millions of Nigerians are struggling with rising inflation, unemployment, high food prices and declining purchasing power, many expected government officials to focus on industrialisation, large-scale job creation and economic reforms capable of lifting people out of poverty.
Against that backdrop, the mention of roadside businesses sounded, to some, like an oversimplified solution to a complex economic crisis.
However, a closer look at the First Lady’s full remarks tells a different story.
Mrs. Tinubu made the comments while explaining the Renewed Hope Initiative’s grant programme, emphasising that beneficiaries receive grants, not loans, to establish or expand businesses.
In doing so, she merely cited akara, roasted corn, kuli-kuli, farming, fashion and bead-making as examples of ventures that require relatively small start-up capital and can grow into sustainable enterprises. They were illustrations, not instructions.
It is also important not to dismiss the economic value of such businesses. Long before modern entrepreneurship became fashionable, countless Nigerian families survived and prospered through small-scale enterprises.
Across the country, many parents funded their children’s education, built homes and catered for their families through businesses like akara frying, roasted corn sales and petty trading. These ventures were not symbols of failure but of resilience, sacrifice and honest labour.
Even today, akara has evolved beyond the traditional roadside trade. Many young Nigerians have transformed it into a modern, well-packaged business with attractive branding, home delivery services and online marketing.
In many cities, a wrap or loaf of akara can sell for between ₦500 and over ₦1,000, depending on the quantity, packaging and location. For many entrepreneurs, it has become a profitable venture capable of generating steady income.
None of this, however, diminishes the broader concerns of Nigerians.
Citizens are not merely asking for encouragement to start small businesses; they expect government to create an economy where entrepreneurship thrives alongside manufacturing, technology, agriculture and other sectors capable of creating millions of sustainable jobs.
This controversy therefore offers lessons for both government and the public. Public officials must appreciate that every word spoken during difficult economic times carries enormous weight and should be communicated with empathy and clarity.
Equally, citizens should avoid judging public statements based solely on isolated excerpts that may not reflect the speaker’s complete message.
There is dignity in honest labour, whether one sells akara, builds software, runs a farm or owns a factory.
The real challenge is not the type of business people choose, but whether Nigeria’s economic environment gives every citizen the opportunity to succeed.
The debate, therefore, should move beyond “akara politics” to the more important question: Is government creating an economy where every legitimate business, small or large, can flourish?
That is the standard by which Nigerians will ultimately judge any administration.
