My Mother Sold Akara To Fund My Education — Dare

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Dr. Sunday Dare, has defended First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s recent advice encouraging Nigerians, particularly women, to embrace small-scale businesses as a means of improving their livelihoods.

Hotnews gathered that speaking during an interview, Dr. Dare said the First Lady’s message had been misunderstood by some critics, stressing that her intention was to encourage Nigerians to develop entrepreneurial skills and take advantage of available opportunities to earn legitimate income for themselves and their families.

According to him, the First Lady’s advice was not meant to belittle anyone’s economic situation but to inspire people to engage in productive ventures, no matter how small the business may be.

He noted that Nigeria’s informal sector has continued to demonstrate remarkable resilience and remains one of the major pillars sustaining the nation’s economy despite prevailing economic challenges.

Dr. Dare explained that thousands of Nigerians who engage in petty trading, including those who sell akara, fruits, vegetables and other everyday commodities, contribute significantly to economic activities across the country.

“She didn’t miss her point. Her point is that whatever it is, try and do something. Have some level of entrepreneurial skills,” Dare said.

“When you look at the informal sector whose resilience continues to lift this economy, it’s because of these small-scale entrepreneurs. They are also significant.”

The presidential aide further argued that many successful business leaders began their journeys with modest enterprises before expanding into large corporations.

He cited billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote as an example of someone who started from humble beginnings before building one of Africa’s largest business empires.

“Go and read Aliko Dangote’s story. Go and read how and where he started from. He also started like a small trader. So, the point the First Lady is making is, whatever it is, be engaged in some kind of enterprise,” Dare stated.

Drawing from his personal experience, Dr. Dare recounted the sacrifices made by his family to ensure he received an education, revealing that his mother sold akara, bananas and oranges to support the household while he also hawked bananas in markets in Jos, Plateau State.

According to him, those humble beginnings enabled his parents to finance his education and shape his future.

“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 said.

Dr. Dare maintained that there is honour in legitimate work and urged Nigerians not to despise humble beginnings, emphasizing that entrepreneurship often starts with the little capital available before growing into larger ventures.

He reiterated that the administration’s position is to encourage self-reliance, innovation and productivity, noting that small businesses remain vital to job creation, poverty reduction and economic development across the country.

The presidential aide concluded by encouraging Nigerians to embrace entrepreneurship with determination, insisting that many successful entrepreneurs built their fortunes gradually through persistence, hard work and prudent management of available resources.

~ Hot News Reporters
Tuesday, 30, June, 2026