“My mother trained me from proceeds of the akara business” – Presidential aide

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has defended First Lady Remi Tinubu’s advice that Nigerians, particularly the unemployed, should embrace petty businesses as a source of income.

In an interview on the Mic-On podcast, Dare said many Nigerians misunderstood the First Lady’s remarks urging citizens to engage in small-scale enterprises such as selling akara(fried bean cakes), kuli-kuli, and roasted corn.

He described these ventures as legitimate and decent sources of livelihood, revealing that his own mother sold akara and bananas to sponsor his education.

“My mother sold akara, bananas and oranges in Jos, Plateau State, and through this, they were able to train me. There’s nothing wrong with that,” Dare said.

The First Lady has faced widespread criticism over the comment, with some Nigerians challenging her to establish such businesses for members of her own household.

Dare urged citizens to stop looking down on the informal sector, noting its significant contribution to the economy.

“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 added.

He stressed that the core message from the First Lady was simple.

He said, “Her point is that whatever it is, try and do something, have some level of entrepreneurial skill.”