Mrs Tinubu’s remarks may not have been expressed in the language of economists or development theorists, but the principle behind them is one that human history repeatedly confirms. That great achievements rarely begin with grand gestures. They begin with modest efforts, sustained over time. It’s a universal truth
By Seyi Akinsola
Just when I thought I was about to extricate myself from the various debates going on, I have been shoved right back in the middle of it! Phew! I hope less people will misunderstand me on this.
The social media has been on fire today with reactions to Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu’s recent encouragement for Nigerians to consider small-scale businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn, and kulikuli. The criticisms have been fierce and brutal. Haters have portrayed her remarks as insensitive, simplistic, and out of touch with the realities of economic hardship facing millions of Nigerians. For crying out loud, do people not feel there is dignity in labour? I will rather toil for my daily bread than to wait, bowl in hand, for someone to hand me a meal. She did not say leave a well-paying job to start kulikuli trade. What she said, in essence, is that instead of being idle, consider “petty trading”.
There has never been a time in our country, as far as I know, that things are not hard for some people. There have always been more poor people than well to do people. What lifts one out of poverty is hard work and the willingness to start small (and grow things). My first venture as a graduate in 1997 was selling suya. I then added beer to it. Even though I drank half of the beer. As an undergraduate and fresh graduate, some people can remember me as a photographer. I still do photography today despite having a day job.
Beneath the outrage I have seen on the internet today lies an uncomfortable truth that perhaps deserves more scrutiny. Every great enterprise, every successful entrepreneur, and indeed every economic transformation, begins with a small step. History is replete with small beginnings.
Honest labour should never be ridiculed because it appears small or ordinary.The woman selling akara to feed her family, the young lady roasting corn to pay her school fees, and the entrepreneur producing kulikuli for local markets are not symbols of failure
We, as a people, have a tendency to worship success while ridiculing humble beginnings. We celebrate billionaires but mock the first trade that put food on their tables. We praise entrepreneurship in the abstract but sneer at the practical realities of how businesses actually begin. The akara seller, the roasted corn vendor, and the kulikuli trader may not fit our glamorous conception of entrepreneurship, but they embody its very essence. A few days ago, I read on the internet of a lady who left the UK to go and sell roasted fish in Nigeria. Google it. I have a guy who helps me prepare goats anytime I’m in Ijebu Jesa. He will come early in the morning, kill the goats and cook it as I desire. I was pleasantly surprised when I heard the guy was actually a councillor in a local government, in addition to being an “alase. When I buried my mother, the guys that collects 30k to prepare a goat for me landed a contract in excess of 2 million.
History is replete with examples of individuals and corporations that started from the humblest of circumstances. Many of Nigeria’s most successful businesspeople began as traders in local markets. Across the world, iconic companies started in garages, dormitories, and small workshops. Every great journey begins with a tiny first step, and often that step is neither glamorous nor celebrated. Baba Odukale of Leadway is a local example. History has it that baba started as a petty trader in Kaduna before he pivoted to selling insurance. He went on to establish his own insurance company. His legacy stands today as an iroko tree. (Google Leadway Assurance Company Limited). As a child, I also knew of women that travelled to the northern part of the country to buy kulikuli in 50kg bags. And they were comfortable people. My wife used to fry yam at the University of Ibadan. Do anything productive. Don’t sit on your hands, you don’t know what it will become
This is not to deny the hardship many Nigerians are currently experiencing. Inflation, unemployment, and the rising cost of living are real challenges that deserve serious policy responses. This is also not to suggest that selling akara or roasted corn is a substitute for industrial policy, job creation, or economic reform. Governments have a responsibility to create an enabling environment in which citizens can thrive.
However, encouraging entrepreneurship at the micro level and pursuing macroeconomic reforms are not mutually exclusive ideas. A society that waits only for government employment or large-scale corporate opportunities risks overlooking the resilience, creativity, and enterprise that have always been among the greatest strengths of the Nigerian people. I have written about my mother in the past. You can search my wall for my story about her.
There is also a deeper philosophical point. Work, in all its forms, possesses dignity. Honest labour should never be ridiculed because it appears small or ordinary. The woman selling akara to feed her family, the young lady roasting corn to pay her school fees, and the entrepreneur producing kulikuli for local markets are not symbols of failure. They are examples of resilience, initiative, and self-reliance. Do you remember my Eko and Moinmoin story? Those are the heroines of our economy. They wake up everyday and start running. Reward does not come from idleness
Perhaps the greatest mistake we make is to judge a person’s destination by their point of departure. The akara stand may become a restaurant. The kulikuli business may become a manufacturing enterprise. The roasted corn seller may one day employ dozens of others. We cannot know where a small beginning will lead.
Mrs Tinubu’s remarks may not have been expressed in the language of economists or development theorists, but the principle behind them is one that human history repeatedly confirms. That great achievements rarely begin with grand gestures. They begin with modest efforts, sustained over time. It’s a universal truth. It does not matter who said it. My brother’s position is that what Mrs. Tinubu said is the truth, but should not have come from her. I don’t agree with him.
•Opinions, positions or thoughts expressed here are personal and strictly of the writer/author and do not represent the views of The Daily Crucible.
