The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, has defended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu following criticism over her advice encouraging Nigerians to embrace small-scale businesses.
Speaking during an interview on Mic On Podcast, Dare said the First Lady’s message was about self-reliance and entrepreneurship, not an attempt to downplay the country’s economic challenges.
Recalling his childhood, the presidential aide revealed that his mother supported the family through petty trading.
“Wherever I am today, my mother sold akara. She sold bananas, and I carried bananas on my head to markets in Jos. She also sold oranges, and through that, they trained me,” Dare said.
He argued that many Nigerians have built successful lives through small businesses and questioned why such ventures should now be looked down upon.
“If that worked 60 years ago, what is wrong with it now? You start with the capital you have and grow from there,” he added.
Dare maintained that the First Lady’s remarks were intended to encourage Nigerians to develop entrepreneurial skills and engage in productive ventures, regardless of how small they may begin.
“The point she is making is simple—whatever it is, try and do something. Be engaged in some kind of enterprise,” he said.
The comments come after Senator Oluremi Tinubu faced backlash over her suggestion that Nigerians, especially women, could improve their livelihoods by venturing into businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn and kulikuli.
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