Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has come to the defence of First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu following widespread criticism over her recent remarks encouraging Nigerians to engage in small-scale businesses such as selling akara (fried bean cakes), roasted corn, and kuli-kuli. Dare, who shared his personal story of growing up in Jos, Plateau State, where his mother sold akara, bananas, and oranges to fund his education, described the First Lady's comments as a well-intentioned call for Nigerians to develop entrepreneurial skills rather than remain idle.
The First Lady had come under heavy fire from social media users and critics who described her advice as insensitive and disconnected from the harsh economic realities facing millions of Nigerians. In a viral video, Senator Tinubu had stated that "to start akara business doesn't take a lot of money. To start roasting corn or kuli-kuli doesn't take much," while explaining that the administration was supporting small businesses through grants rather than loans. The remarks sparked outrage, with many Nigerians challenging her to establish such businesses for members of her own household.
Speaking during an interview with Seun Okinbaloye on the Mic On podcast on Saturday, June 27, 2026, Dare pushed back against the criticism, insisting that the First Lady's message had been misunderstood. He recounted how his mother raised him through petty trading, revealing that she sold akara, bananas, and oranges in Jos, Plateau State, while he assisted by hawking the fruits in local markets. "My mother sold akara and bananas. I carried bananas on trays on my head to the market in Jos. My mother also sold oranges, and through that, they were able to train me," Dare said. He added: "There's nothing wrong with that".
The presidential aide argued that the resilience of Nigeria's small-scale businesses continues to lift the country's economy, emphasising the significant contribution of the informal sector. "When you look at the informal sector of our country, its resilience continues to ease this economy. It's because of these small-scale entrepreneurs — those that sell akara and kuli-kuli. You find them predominantly everywhere, and also in the North. They are very significant," Dare stated. He maintained that the First Lady's core message was simple: "Whatever it is, try and do something, have some level of entrepreneurial skill".
Dare urged Nigerians to stop looking down on the informal sector and to recognise the dignity of labour. He noted that if his own mother could sell akara and bananas sixty years ago and successfully train her children, there was nothing inappropriate about encouraging others to explore similar opportunities. According to him, the experience of hawking fruits in Jos markets taught him the value of hard work and entrepreneurship from an early age.
The defence by the presidential aide comes amid growing public frustration over the economic hardship facing the country, with many Nigerians struggling to afford basic necessities. Critics have argued that the First Lady's remarks failed to acknowledge the structural challenges that make it difficult for ordinary citizens to start and sustain small businesses, including rising costs of ingredients, lack of access to credit, and inadequate infrastructure. However, Dare insisted that the First Lady was merely encouraging Nigerians to develop entrepreneurial skills and engage in productive ventures rather than remain idle.
The debate over the First Lady's comments has reignited conversations about the government's approach to poverty alleviation and economic empowerment. While some have defended the remarks as pragmatic advice in difficult times, others have called for more substantive interventions, including job creation, social welfare programmes, and policies that address the root causes of poverty and unemployment. The interview, which has since gone viral, has further polarised public opinion, with supporters praising Dare's personal story as a testament to the power of resilience and hard work, while detractors argue that individual success stories cannot substitute for systemic change.
As of the time of this report, the First Lady had not issued any further statement on the controversy. However, Dare's intervention has ensured that the conversation continues, with Nigerians across the political and social spectrum weighing in on what the government owes its citizens and what citizens owe themselves in the face of economic adversity.
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