Sunday Dare Defends Remi Tinubu’s Comments on Akara and Small-Scale Entrepreneurship

‘You Missed Her Point’ — Sunday Dare Defends Remi Tinubu’s Akara Comment

Sunday Dare, former minister of youth and sports, has defended remarks made by Oluremi Tinubu, the first lady, about small-scale food businesses.   The first lady recently said micro-enterprises such as selling akara [bean cakes], roasted corn, and kuli kuli [peanut snacks] require minimal startup capital, adding that the government is providing grants rather than loans to support such ventures.   “We’re trying to give hope, and to start an akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kuli kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant,” she said.   The remarks drew criticism on social media, with many users accusing the first lady of trivialising the economic hardship facing many Nigerians.     But speaking during an interview on the ‘Mic On Podcast’ hosted by Seun Okinbaloye, a journalist with Channels Television, Dare said the nation’s economy is resilient because of small-scale entrepreneurs, including those who sell akara.   “We find them predominantly everywhere, also in the north,” Dare said.   The special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on media and public communication urged Nigerians to focus on the substance of the first lady’s remarks, adding that he once hawked bananas while growing up.     “You must not miss her point, which is: whatever it is, try and do something, have some level of entrepreneurial skill,” he said.   “Look at me, wherever I am today, my mother sold akara. Wherever I am today, 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? Because it is about what capital you have. When you grow these small businesses, you start small.   “Go and read Dangote’s story, where he started from. He also started as a trader. So the point she is making is: whatever it is, be engaged in some kind of enterprise.”  

6 hours ago

“My Mother Sold Akara, I Hawked Plantain To Fund My Education” — Presidential Aide, Sunday Dare, Defends First Lady, Remi Tinubu

Presidential aide Sunday Dare has defended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s remarks encouraging Nigerians to embrace small-scale entrepreneurship, saying there is dignity in starting with modest businesses. Speaking during an interview, Dare said the First Lady’s message was simply that Nigerians should engage in productive ventures regardless of how small they may seem, noting that the […] The post “My Mother Sold Akara, I Hawked Plantain To Fund My Education” — Presidential Aide, Sunday Dare, Defends First Lady, Remi Tinubu appeared first on Information Nigeria.

13 hours ago