Does Remi Tinubu Ridicule Small-scale Business Owners?, by OLAWALE OGUNBUSOLA

One thing the present administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has brought to the fore since 2023 is availability in the nation’s fuel distribution.

“Subsidy is gone!” was the administration’s processional hymn on May 29, 2023. The consequence has been the allocation of the national cake to state governors, the officialisation of the Student Loan Scheme, among others.

Since today’s subject lies within the economy, I will not drift from it. I am greatly aware of a recent business grant empowerment by the wife of the president, Senator Remi Tinubu. She highlighted the impact of small-scale businesses in any society, of which Nigeria is not an exception.

First, no one will dispute the fact that the woman has commenced a nationwide business grants empowerment for women and youths. If I am not well acquainted with other states, in Oyo State, the beautiful office of the wife of the governor, Mrs Tamunominini Makinde, launched a similar scheme in late 2025. What an incredible initiative!

The idolisation of opposition politics kills good political intention in Nigeria, and I can say emphatically that until we attain rapid maturity, the much-craved development will not materialise. Governor Seyi Makinde embarked on market/park restructuring. At first, it attracted much distaste, but today, many other regions of the state are requesting it. Ask me, that is an enabling environment for small-scale business owners. Visit the recently restructured parks — Iwo Road, Ojoo, Challenge, Bodija, Gate — stall holders with less than N30,000 worth of articles/goods are thriving there. Credit to Seyi Makinde in that regard!

Did you know that small and medium enterprises thrive in the United States of America, Singapore, UAE, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Germany, Ghana, Zambia, Niger, Chad, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya, and even in the Republic of Benin because the government and citizens collaborate?

I wonder why Mrs Remi Tinubu was quoted out of context. She was greatly attacked for crediting small business owners who, I am sure, might start with as little as N30,000. Obviously, one thing is natural: women hold 75 per cent of the nation’s economy. A well-trained woman is ever entrepreneurially diversified.

My mother, Madam Rachael, a certified knitter, sold match sticks, kerosene, and lantern wicks in the early and mid-90s to support her husband, who was a professional photographer, with less than N200. There was no fight, no grudge, but there was cooperation and future-mindedness as the economy then melted down. Today, all five of us are professionals.

We have many successful leaders and administrators in this country whose parents engaged in small-scale businesses in their time — the late Abiola Ajimobi, Governor Seyi Makinde, the current Registrar of the University of Ibadan, Ganiyu Saliu, Dr Wasiu Olatunbosun, the pioneer Dean of the Faculty of Environment Management and Design at Leadcity University, Ibadan, Prof. Grace Oloukoi, to mention but a few.

To me, Remi Tinubu did not mean that starting a business with N50,000 is a benchmark. However, a serious individual can still lay hands on a little-paying business in Nigeria today to keep body and soul together.

What matters is dignity in labour. Joblessness is a bane to Nigeria’s growth and development. If there is a thriving environment, small businesses will help the nation’s development. Poor family planning, greed, illiteracy, laziness, fear of the future, and an aesthetic social lifestyle are some of the critical issues individuals should deal with.

The wives of state governors should be transparent in their empowerment programmes. Citizens should hold government representatives accountable for failing to initiate poverty-alleviating programmes in their respective constituencies. Lawmakers should conscientiously legislate on reduced salaries, bonuses, and allowances for civil and public servants. There must be functional financial misappropriation control mechanisms. Government at all levels should promote security and talent-hunt programmes. Nigerians should desist from complaining and, rather, dedicate efforts to self-fulfilment.

News writers and journalists should avoid sensational content. Truth, being one of the ethics of journalism, should be given prominence for a progressive society.

In general, both the federal and state governments should empower local councils and suspend hard, tightened taxes/dues on small business owners.

If we ponder well on Senator Remi Tinubu’s statement on the N50,000 start-up grant to small business owners, we will realise she never meant ridicule nor demoralisation. She advocates for dignity in labour. Enough of beggars with no bodily injuries on our streets in Ibadan and the country at large. Let the urgent N2,000 requisitions on social media, far and near, vanish. With N50,000, a petty/small-scale business can start up.

 OGUNBUSOLA, a broadcast journalist, columnist, public affairs analyst, educationist, and a fellow of the Eccolerite Institute for Peace Advancement, writes from Ibadan.