Dare Defends Oluremi Tinubu Entrepreneurship Remarks

Presidential aide Sunday Dare has defended remarks by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who urged Nigerians to embrace small-scale entrepreneurship, saying there is dignity in choosing to start small business ventures. He said her message encourages citizens to engage in productive work, no matter how small, while stressing the importance of the informal sector Nigeria plays in driving economic resilience. He added that entrepreneurship in Nigeria often begins small and grows through effort, discipline and opportunity, including small-scale businesses.

Dare noted that the informal sector Nigeria remains a key part of the economy, powered by traders and everyday workers. He said many who choose to start small business help build stronger communities. “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. He stressed that Nigerians should develop entrepreneurial skills and make use of available opportunities, insisting that people should remain active and productive in honest work.

Dare reflected on his upbringing, explaining how his mother supported the family through trading. He said he learned early lessons about small-scale businesses and hard work. He encouraged Nigerians not to look down on humble beginnings, noting that many successful people once had similar experiences. He said: “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?”

He added that growth in entrepreneurship in Nigeria often starts small, pointing to Aliko Dangote as an example. He said: “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 said. He encouraged Nigerians to value start small business as a foundation for success and wider economic impact, reinforcing persistence and economic resilience.