Selling Akara is nothing to be ashamed of – Presidency defends first lady’s remark  

The Presidency has defended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s recent remarks encouraging Nigerians to embrace small-scale businesses, insisting there is dignity in selling akara, roasted corn and other legitimate trades.

Sunday Dare, the special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on media and public communications made the defence while speaking on the Mic-On Podcast, where he shared his personal experience of helping his mother sell food items during his childhood.

According to Dare, he assisted his mother in selling akara, bananas and oranges in Jos, Plateau State, stressing that the proceeds from the business helped fund 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,” he said.

The presidential aide said criticism of the first lady’s remarks overlooked the broader message she intended to convey.

He explained that the informal sector remains a critical driver of Nigeria’s economy, with millions of small-scale entrepreneurs sustaining livelihoods through businesses such as akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli sales.

“When you look at the informal sector of our country, its resilience continues to sustain this economy. It’s because of these small-scale entrepreneurs, those who sell akara and kuli-kuli, because you find them almost everywhere across the country. They play a significant role,” Dare stated.

He maintained that the first lady’s message was simply a call for Nigerians to develop entrepreneurial skills rather than remain idle.

“You must not miss the First Lady’s point. Her point is that whatever it is, try and do something, have some level of entrepreneurial skill,” he added.

Oluremi Tinubu had faced criticism after suggesting that Nigerians could consider ventures such as selling bean cakes (akara) and roasted corn as legitimate means of earning a living, with some critics urging her to encourage members of her own family to take up such businesses.