Editorial
By Chukwudi George Ozalla
The outrage that greeted the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s remarks about starting small businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn or making kuli-kuli says more about our mindset than it does about her statement.
Many Nigerians interpreted her comments as being insensitive to the country’s economic realities. Others turned them into jokes and social media memes. Yet, if one listens carefully to what she said, it becomes clear that she was merely citing examples of small businesses that require relatively little capital to begin. She did not say every Nigerian must become an akara seller or a corn roaster. Those were simply illustrations of the many modest ventures through which people can begin earning an honest living. The examples could just as easily have been tailoring, shoe making, soap production, fish farming, baking or hairdressing. The message was never about akara, roasted corn or kuli-kuli. The message was about the dignity of honest labour and the wisdom of starting somewhere.
The truth is that no government, anywhere in the world, can provide jobs for every citizen. Even the world’s richest economies rely heavily on entrepreneurs, artisans, small businesses and the private sector to create employment. Government has the responsibility to provide security, infrastructure, sound economic policies and an environment where businesses can thrive. But citizens also have a responsibility to make productive use of the opportunities available to them.
The uncomfortable reality is that government and the private sector, even working together, cannot employ every Nigerian. That is simply not how economies function. Every successful nation depends on millions of people who create opportunities for themselves and for others through entrepreneurship, innovation and skilled trades. Waiting endlessly for government employment is therefore not a realistic strategy. Where government falls short, responsible citizens should not surrender to hopelessness. They should bridge the gap with enterprise, creativity and determination while continuing to hold government accountable for its constitutional responsibilities.
There is nothing degrading about starting small. Every successful entrepreneur has a beginning. Many thriving businesses today started from roadside stalls, home kitchens, workshops or small market spaces before growing into household names. Honest work, no matter how humble, deserves respect.
Many of the occupations society looks down on are, ironically, among the most profitable. The roadside akara seller, the roasted corn vendor, the kuli-kuli producer, the fruit seller and countless other small-scale entrepreneurs often earn enough to pay their rent, educate their children and meet their daily needs with dignity. Some even earn more than people in certain white-collar jobs. Ironically, some who ridicule these humble businesses eventually turn to those same entrepreneurs for financial assistance or loans they may never repay. The difference is simple: one chose enterprise over excuses.
There are enterprising Nigerians who devote just three or four hours each morning or evening to a small business and make more profit than some daily wage earners receive after working an entire day. Their success is not accidental. It comes from discipline, consistency and a willingness to do honest work that others wrongly consider beneath them. We must stop measuring the worth of a job by how prestigious it sounds and begin measuring it by the value it creates and the dignity it brings to those who do it.
Sadly, a growing culture has emerged where every public statement is immediately dragged into the arena of ridicule. Instead of engaging ideas on their merit, many people, especially on social media, rush to manufacture jokes, create memes and compete over who can deliver the funniest insult. The result is that meaningful conversations are buried beneath endless mockery.
This trend is particularly worrying among many young Nigerians. Rather than reflecting on the substance of what was said, some immediately took to social media demanding that the First Lady should come and fry akara herself. Others dismissed the entire message without pausing to understand that she was merely using familiar examples that every Nigerian could relate to.
Those telling the First Lady to come and fry akara herself have completely missed the point. She was not recommending a career for herself or suggesting that every Nigerian should become an akara seller. She simply used everyday examples to illustrate a broader principle: that one does not always need enormous capital to begin earning an honest living. Rejecting the message because of the examples she used is like rejecting a lesson simply because of the illustration chosen to explain it.
Such reactions do little to solve the unemployment challenge confronting the country. Ridiculing a suggestion has never created a single job. Mocking a speaker has never paid anybody’s rent. Turning everything into comedy may generate likes, shares and fleeting internet fame, but it does not improve anyone’s economic condition.
Young people, more than any other demographic, should begin to redirect their energy towards productivity. The same social media platforms where many spend hours debating politics, insulting leaders and exchanging jokes also provide opportunities to acquire knowledge and build careers. Thousands of Nigerians have learned graphic design, software development, digital marketing, content creation, animation, video editing, photography, copywriting, virtual assistance and several other skills online. Many now earn respectable incomes serving clients across the world without leaving their homes.
The internet is one of the greatest equalisers of this generation. It rewards knowledge, creativity and consistency. Every hour spent acquiring a valuable skill is an investment in one’s future. Every hour wasted chasing trends or participating in needless online attacks is an opportunity lost. Instead of using social media solely as a platform for mockery, young Nigerians should also see it as a classroom, a marketplace and a gateway to limitless opportunities. The choice between becoming a perpetual critic and becoming a productive citizen eventually rests with each individual.
This is particularly important for young people. Far too many spend countless hours every day scrolling through social media, engaging in endless arguments, chasing trends or consuming content that adds little value to their lives. Imagine if even a fraction of that time were invested in learning a digital skill, graphic design, video editing, programming, digital marketing, web development, data analysis, copywriting or other online skills that can generate legitimate income from anywhere in the world. The internet is no longer just a place for entertainment; it is one of the greatest classrooms and marketplaces ever created.
Unfortunately, some young people have become so comfortable mocking every idea that they now mistake cynicism for intelligence. It is easier to create a viral meme than to create a source of income. It is easier to ridicule someone else’s suggestion than to develop a skill that can change one’s life. Social media should not become a hiding place for idleness. It should be a tool for learning, networking, innovation and wealth creation. A generation that spends more time laughing at opportunities than pursuing them risks becoming a spectator in an economy that rewards initiative.
None of this excuses government from its obligation to tackle unemployment and create an enabling environment for businesses to succeed. Nigerians have every right to demand better governance, stable electricity, improved security, affordable credit and policies that encourage investment. Those expectations remain valid. Holding leaders accountable is a civic duty and should never be discouraged. However, accountability should not blind us to common sense. It is possible to criticize government policies while also acknowledging practical advice wherever it comes from.
At the same time, waiting indefinitely for government employment or believing that success can only come through white-collar jobs is no longer realistic. The economy has changed. Those who adapt, acquire skills and embrace entrepreneurship often place themselves in a stronger position than those who simply wait for opportunities to come.
History is filled with people who started with almost nothing. Some sold food by the roadside, others repaired shoes, made clothing, traded in local markets or rendered simple services before expanding into successful enterprises. Their stories points to the fact that dignity lies not in the size of the business but in the honesty of the labour. No legitimate work should ever become an object of shame.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s examples of akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli should therefore be understood for what they were: simple illustrations of self-help, not a dismissal of the economic challenges facing Nigerians. They were examples, not prescriptions.
Perhaps the larger issue exposed by this controversy is our attitude towards honest labour. We celebrate wealth but often ridicule humble beginnings. We admire successful entrepreneurs yet forget that many of them started with little more than determination and a willingness to do work that others considered insignificant. If we continue to despise small beginnings, we may discourage the very spirit of enterprise that our economy desperately needs.
Perhaps the real lesson is this: instead of mocking every message that encourages enterprise, Nigerians, especially the younger generation, should begin to see value in starting somewhere. No honest beginning is too small, and no useful skill is beneath anyone. The road to financial independence often begins with the willingness to start, regardless of how modest that first step may seem.
Before we mock, let us think. Before we ridicule, let us reflect. And before we dismiss practical advice simply because it comes from a public official, let us ask ourselves a simple question: if more young Nigerians channelled the same energy they invest in online ridicule into learning skills, building businesses and creating value, would our future not be brighter? The answer is obvious. Nigeria needs more builders than mockers, more creators than critics, and more citizens who are prepared to take responsibility for their future while continuing to demand the responsible leadership they deserve.
