In recent days, the remarks of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, encouraging Nigerians to consider small businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli have generated widespread public debate. While some critics interpreted the comments as inadequate in the face of economic hardship, others saw them as a reminder that honest enterprise, no matter how modest, deserves respect and can become a pathway to economic independence. The First Lady made the remarks while explaining that grants had been provided to help vulnerable Nigerians establish small businesses rather than burden them with loans.
Beyond the controversy lies a profound lesson worth reflecting upon: akara is more than a local delicacy; it is a metaphor for the dignity of labour.
Across Nigeria, countless families have survived, educated their children and built respectable lives through businesses that many once dismissed as “small.” The woman who rises before dawn to soak beans, grind them, prepare the batter and fry akara is not merely selling food. She is creating value, generating income, supporting farmers who produce beans, sustaining transporters who move goods, and feeding workers on their way to their daily engagements. Every ball of akara sold represents productivity, resilience and hope.
History teaches us that no economy grows solely through large corporations or government employment. Every thriving nation is sustained by millions of micro, small and medium enterprises. They provide employment, stimulate local production, encourage innovation and keep money circulating within communities. In many developing economies, small businesses account for the overwhelming majority of enterprises and contribute significantly to national income.
Nigeria is no exception. Our markets, roadside kiosks, food vendors, artisans, mechanics, tailors, hairdressers and countless informal entrepreneurs constitute the heartbeat of the economy. Though individually modest, collectively they generate enormous economic activity. They reduce unemployment, strengthen household incomes and serve as training grounds for future business leaders.
Akara perfectly illustrates this reality. Its production chain extends beyond the roadside frying pan. Farmers cultivate the beans. Traders supply ingredients. Millers process the beans. Manufacturers produce frying pans, cooking utensils and packaging materials. Transport operators move supplies from farms to markets. Digital payment providers increasingly facilitate transactions. What appears to be a simple breakfast snack actually supports an extensive economic ecosystem.
The dignity of labour lies not in the size of one’s business but in the honesty of one’s effort. Societies prosper when people understand that every legitimate occupation deserves respect. Nations decline when people believe that success must come only through government appointments or white-collar employment. Economic transformation begins when citizens embrace productive work, however humble its beginnings.
This is not to suggest that small businesses alone can solve Nigeria’s economic challenges. Sustainable prosperity also requires sound public policies, stable electricity, accessible credit, good roads, quality education, security and an enabling environment in which entrepreneurs can thrive. Citizens deserve an economy where honest work is rewarded and businesses can grow beyond mere survival.
Yet it would be equally mistaken to underestimate the power of entrepreneurship at the grassroots. Many successful Nigerian companies started with little capital, determination and consistency. Every successful enterprise was once a small venture. Today’s factory may have begun as yesterday’s roadside stall.
Perhaps, therefore, the conversation should move beyond whether akara is too small a business to recommend. The more important question is how Nigeria can build an economy where a woman selling akara can access affordable credit, reliable electricity, better markets, business training and opportunities to expand into catering, food processing or restaurant ownership. That is how micro-enterprises become medium-sized businesses, and medium-sized businesses become engines of national development.
Akara reminds us that honest labour has intrinsic value. It reminds us that poverty is often fought not only through government intervention but also through enterprise, creativity and perseverance. It reminds us that national prosperity is built one productive citizen at a time.
Every loaf of bread sold, every shoe repaired, every garment sewn and every akara fried contributes, however modestly, to the nation’s economic life. When millions engage in productive work, the cumulative impact becomes national wealth.
The true lesson of akara, therefore, is not merely about selling bean cakes. It is about restoring respect for honest work, celebrating entrepreneurship, and recognising that small beginnings can produce great destinies. For both individuals and nations, prosperity is rarely born from idleness. More often, it begins with the simple decision to work with dignity, create value and build steadily from what is available.
Oluyi is the Head, Directorate of Public Relations and Corporate Affairs, University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo
