Truth be told: Revisiting the akara, kulikuli advice by Remi Tinubu

It has been days since Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, stirred a hornet’s nest after encouraging women to embrace small-scale businesses such as selling akara, kulikuli and other local products. Yet, the backlash has refused to subside.

It is not a laughing matter. Still, I was tempted to laugh when I saw AI-generated images of Nigerians recreating themselves as akara sellers, kulikuli vendors and roasted corn hawkers flood the social media. You can’t help but laugh. But again, that is the Nigerian spirit of finding humour even in moments of national tension.

Social media has been awash with angst, anger and accusations that Mrs. Tinubu is out of touch with the economic realities confronting ordinary Nigerians. Her critics argued that it was insensitive for someone who has enjoyed the privileges of public office, as both former senator and now Jagaban’s wife to suggest that struggling women should survive by selling bean cakes while political leaders continue to earn enormous salaries and allowances.

That outrage is understandable. Nigeria is experiencing one of its most difficult economic periods in decades. Inflation has eroded purchasing power, unemployment remains high, and millions of households are struggling to afford basic necessities. Against this backdrop, encouraging women to engage in petty trading can easily sound dismissive of the deeper structural problems that government is expected to address.

Yet, separating the messenger from the message will reveal a different perspective.

First, it is important to consider the audience the First Lady was addressing. Her remarks were directed at grassroots women, many of whom already possess entrepreneurial skills but lack the encouragement or support to turn those skills into sustainable livelihoods. There are millions of such women in different parts of Nigeria. She was not talking to the urban elite women who have higher skills and opportunities.

From the benefit of the hindsight, small businesses have been the backbone of economic resilience in many developing economies. Nearly every successful enterprise began as a modest venture. Across Nigeria, countless entrepreneurs started by selling food, snacks, clothing or household items before building thriving businesses. There is dignity in enterprise, regardless of its size.

More importantly, economic participation offers something that handouts never can: independence. And this type of business has its own advantages. For intance, the tax laws protect them from being taxed.

For decades, Nigerian politics has encouraged a culture of dependency. Citizens often wait for palliatives, empowerment programmes or election-season gifts from politicians. While social welfare has its place, it cannot replace sustainable income generation. A woman who earns even a modest daily income from selling local products gains financial confidence, greater decision-making power and a measure of economic security that periodic government assistance cannot provide.

Viewed from this perspective, the First Lady’s remarks can be interpreted as an appeal for entrepreneurship and independence.

Mrs. Tinubu’s philosophy is not uniquely Nigerian. Across countries such as India, Bangladesh, Kenya and Indonesia, governments have encouraged micro-enterprises as engines of economic growth. Millions of women have improved their living standards through small businesses supported by microfinance, cooperatives and skills development. What begins as a roadside business often grows into an employer of labour.

The problem, however, is that entrepreneurship cannot thrive in isolation.

Encouraging people to start businesses without creating an environment where businesses can succeed is only half the conversation. Entrepreneurs need security, affordable credit, reliable electricity, good roads, financial security, stable economic policies and consumers with sufficient purchasing power. Without these conditions, even the most determined business owner may struggle.

This is where Nigerians should be concerned about. Their criticism should be directed less at the principle of entrepreneurship and more at the disconnection between encouraging self-reliance and addressing the systemic barriers that make enterprise difficult.

The conversation should not be about whether women should sell akara or kulikuli. The real question is whether government is doing enough to ensure that anyone who chooses that path has a genuine opportunity to succeed.

In that sense, both sides would have valid points: the public would be right to demand policies that reduce poverty, create jobs and stimulate economic growth. Equally, the First Lady would not be necessarily wrong in encouraging women to pursue productive economic activities instead of depending solely on government assistance.

Ultimately, no nation has ever become prosperous through handouts. Sustainable development is built on productive citizens operating within an enabling environment. The challenge before Nigeria is not choosing between entrepreneurship and government responsibility, but ensuring that both work together to lift millions out of poverty.

Okoronkwo, PhD, is a Canada-based media professional.

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