₦airaland Forum

fuke:
The reaction of many Nigerians, especially some young people, never ceases to amaze me.
When I read the responses to Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu's suggestion that women could start small businesses with a ₦50,000 grant, I began to wonder whether many people truly understand entrepreneurship. The debate revealed that, for many Nigerians, what they do not know about business is far greater than what they know.

Some argued that ₦50,000 is too little to start any meaningful business. Others claimed that selling akara is demeaning. I disagree.

No honest work that puts food on the table is demeaning. With ₦50,000, there are several businesses one can start. In fact, there are businesses people begin with little or no capital at all.

History has repeatedly shown that many wealthy individuals started from humble beginnings. Success is often determined not by where you start, but by your determination, consistency, and ability to grow.

Coming back to the akara business, I was encouraged to see that some people refused to follow the crowd. Just this morning, I watched interviews with two akara sellers in Lagos. Interestingly, both happened to be from the ethnic group that has been among the loudest critics of the First Lady's comments. That alone suggests that perhaps politics played a bigger role in the outrage than economics.

The first interview featured an Igbo man selling akara at Ladipo Market. He quickly turned the interview into free advertising by mentioning his shop address. He proudly said he had trained his children through school, including graduates, and had built a house in Lagos. Anyone familiar with the cost of owning property in Lagos knows that this is no small achievement.

The second interview was with a woman in another part of Lagos. She explained that she invested about ₦12,000 daily and made at least ₦5,000 profit. That represents an impressive return on investment. Few legitimate businesses in today's Nigeria consistently produce such margins.

Many Nigerians underestimate small businesses simply because they appear ordinary. Yet some of these "ordinary" businesses generate extraordinary income. There is nothing humiliating about earning an honest living. Every legitimate occupation deserves respect.
Not every police officer will become the Inspector General. Not every soldier will become a General. Not everyone working in a hospital will become a doctor. Society functions because different people occupy different positions with dignity and excellence.

In my book, Businesses That Can Never Fail, Even If You Plan To Fail, I discuss several businesses that meet every day human needs. Food is one of them. Regardless of economic conditions, people must eat.

I know a graduate in Iyana Church, Ibadan, who, after years of searching unsuccessfully for employment, started selling rice. Today, he employs other people, drives a good car, and owns a beautiful house not far from where I live. Had he considered the business beneath him, he might still be depending on his parents.

So, what exactly is degrading about selling akara or kulikuli? How is it fundamentally different from selling rice, amala, porridge, or any other prepared food? Instead of appreciating the encouragement to explore viable business opportunities, many people chose to attack the messenger, largely because of political differences.

At Akobo, Ojurin Junction in Ibadan, there were two young Igbo men who sold fried plantain every evening between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Anyone who observed their business could tell they were making good money. Today, there are many similar roadside food businesses across Ibadan that are thriving.

Must we reject a good idea simply because it comes from someone whose politics we oppose? Ironically, many of those criticizing Mrs. Tinubu today were themselves raised by parents whose livelihoods came from similar small businesses.

What is wrong with starting from humble beginnings? Has the dignity of labour become an outdated value? Must everyone aspire only to white-collar jobs while looking down on honest entrepreneurship?

Many successful business empires began with modest ventures.

The Eleganza Group traces its roots to its founder, Chief Razaq Okoya, who started by selling wristwatches and other small items in Lagos before building one of Nigeria's most recognizable manufacturing brands.

In my hometown of Efon-Alaaye, there was a man who began life as a truck pusher. Before he passed away a few years ago, he had expanded into automobile sales, printing, farming, and construction. He became one of the wealthiest men in the town and left behind accomplished children. His story is not unique. Thousands of Nigerians have similar testimonies.

There is something we can learn from the entrepreneurial culture of the United States and Europe. Many enduring business empires grew from small family enterprises. Companies such as Starbucks began with a simple idea and expanded over time through consistency, innovation, and good management. Small beginnings should never be despised.

One principle I constantly teach young people is this: Start something. Just start.

You may not be able to build a refinery like Dangote today, but you can begin by selling Kerosene like Obat, the Olugbo of igbo kingdom did. You may not establish a manufacturing empire overnight like Eleganza, but you can start by selling simple products. You may not own a major automobile dealership immediately, but you can begin by helping people buy and sell cars like Elizade, the Toyota Magnate and owner of Elizade University located in Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria did.

Every great business was once a small business.

If your starting point is an akara stand, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. What matters is your vision, your discipline, your willingness to improve, and your consistency.

Never be ashamed of honest work. Today's small enterprise may become tomorrow's business empire.

Otunba Jide Omiyale (Amateur political analyst and SME expert)

Stockholm syndrome is the psychological phenomenon where victims develop positive feelings, loyalty, or protective behaviors toward their abusers

fuke:
The reaction of many Nigerians, especially some young people, never ceases to amaze me.
When I read the responses to Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu's suggestion that women could start small businesses with a ₦50,000 grant, I began to wonder whether many people truly understand entrepreneurship. The debate revealed that, for many Nigerians, what they do not know about business is far greater than what they know.

Some argued that ₦50,000 is too little to start any meaningful business. Others claimed that selling akara is demeaning. I disagree.

No honest work that puts food on the table is demeaning. With ₦50,000, there are several businesses one can start. In fact, there are businesses people begin with little or no capital at all.

History has repeatedly shown that many wealthy individuals started from humble beginnings. Success is often determined not by where you start, but by your determination, consistency, and ability to grow.

Coming back to the akara business, I was encouraged to see that some people refused to follow the crowd. Just this morning, I watched interviews with two akara sellers in Lagos. Interestingly, both happened to be from the ethnic group that has been among the loudest critics of the First Lady's comments. That alone suggests that perhaps politics played a bigger role in the outrage than economics.

The first interview featured an Igbo man selling akara at Ladipo Market. He quickly turned the interview into free advertising by mentioning his shop address. He proudly said he had trained his children through school, including graduates, and had built a house in Lagos. Anyone familiar with the cost of owning property in Lagos knows that this is no small achievement.

The second interview was with a woman in another part of Lagos. She explained that she invested about ₦12,000 daily and made at least ₦5,000 profit. That represents an impressive return on investment. Few legitimate businesses in today's Nigeria consistently produce such margins.

Many Nigerians underestimate small businesses simply because they appear ordinary. Yet some of these "ordinary" businesses generate extraordinary income. There is nothing humiliating about earning an honest living. Every legitimate occupation deserves respect.
Not every police officer will become the Inspector General. Not every soldier will become a General. Not everyone working in a hospital will become a doctor. Society functions because different people occupy different positions with dignity and excellence.

In my book, Businesses That Can Never Fail, Even If You Plan To Fail, I discuss several businesses that meet every day human needs. Food is one of them. Regardless of economic conditions, people must eat.

I know a graduate in Iyana Church, Ibadan, who, after years of searching unsuccessfully for employment, started selling rice. Today, he employs other people, drives a good car, and owns a beautiful house not far from where I live. Had he considered the business beneath him, he might still be depending on his parents.

So, what exactly is degrading about selling akara or kulikuli? How is it fundamentally different from selling rice, amala, porridge, or any other prepared food? Instead of appreciating the encouragement to explore viable business opportunities, many people chose to attack the messenger, largely because of political differences.

At Akobo, Ojurin Junction in Ibadan, there were two young Igbo men who sold fried plantain every evening between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Anyone who observed their business could tell they were making good money. Today, there are many similar roadside food businesses across Ibadan that are thriving.

Must we reject a good idea simply because it comes from someone whose politics we oppose? Ironically, many of those criticizing Mrs. Tinubu today were themselves raised by parents whose livelihoods came from similar small businesses.

What is wrong with starting from humble beginnings? Has the dignity of labour become an outdated value? Must everyone aspire only to white-collar jobs while looking down on honest entrepreneurship?

Many successful business empires began with modest ventures.

The Eleganza Group traces its roots to its founder, Chief Razaq Okoya, who started by selling wristwatches and other small items in Lagos before building one of Nigeria's most recognizable manufacturing brands.

In my hometown of Efon-Alaaye, there was a man who began life as a truck pusher. Before he passed away a few years ago, he had expanded into automobile sales, printing, farming, and construction. He became one of the wealthiest men in the town and left behind accomplished children. His story is not unique. Thousands of Nigerians have similar testimonies.

There is something we can learn from the entrepreneurial culture of the United States and Europe. Many enduring business empires grew from small family enterprises. Companies such as Starbucks began with a simple idea and expanded over time through consistency, innovation, and good management. Small beginnings should never be despised.

One principle I constantly teach young people is this: Start something. Just start.

You may not be able to build a refinery like Dangote today, but you can begin by selling Kerosene like Obat, the Olugbo of igbo kingdom did. You may not establish a manufacturing empire overnight like Eleganza, but you can start by selling simple products. You may not own a major automobile dealership immediately, but you can begin by helping people buy and sell cars like Elizade, the Toyota Magnate and owner of Elizade University located in Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria did.

Every great business was once a small business.

If your starting point is an akara stand, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. What matters is your vision, your discipline, your willingness to improve, and your consistency.

Never be ashamed of honest work. Today's small enterprise may become tomorrow's business empire.

Otunba Jide Omiyale (Amateur political analyst and SME expert)

1vandragon:
After pushing millions of Nigerians into multidimensional poverty...

Frying akara is nothing new. Roasting corn is not a big deal. These are nano/micro businesses.

The issue is that the incompetence of bat has pushed more people into that catergory of struggling to feed from hand to mouth.

Like someone pointed out, there is no scarcity of akara fryers or corn roasters, so it is not as if the government is opening a niche market or addressing a shortage.

How many akara sellers can even afford to maintain their householders today unlike 12 years ago...

To think this government was once so critical of the PDP which by benefit of hindsight, performed better in socio-economic areas.

Menclothing1:
Jobless youth everywhere and most of them their mama they fry akara send them to university
Anything to trend na so una do Stella drag patience use mouth run Aisha down

lordm:
Akara business is better than begging or pushing drugs.


Some people don't understand that the akara business is the wish of some people.

Not everyone can be a graduate

fuke:
The reaction of many Nigerians, especially some young people, never ceases to amaze me.
When I read the responses to Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu's suggestion that women could start small businesses with a ₦50,000 grant, I began to wonder whether many people truly understand entrepreneurship. The debate revealed that, for many Nigerians, what they do not know about business is far greater than what they know.

Some argued that ₦50,000 is too little to start any meaningful business. Others claimed that selling akara is demeaning. I disagree.

No honest work that puts food on the table is demeaning. With ₦50,000, there are several businesses one can start. In fact, there are businesses people begin with little or no capital at all.

History has repeatedly shown that many wealthy individuals started from humble beginnings. Success is often determined not by where you start, but by your determination, consistency, and ability to grow.

Coming back to the akara business, I was encouraged to see that some people refused to follow the crowd. Just this morning, I watched interviews with two akara sellers in Lagos. Interestingly, both happened to be from the ethnic group that has been among the loudest critics of the First Lady's comments. That alone suggests that perhaps politics played a bigger role in the outrage than economics.

The first interview featured an Igbo man selling akara at Ladipo Market. He quickly turned the interview into free advertising by mentioning his shop address. He proudly said he had trained his children through school, including graduates, and had built a house in Lagos. Anyone familiar with the cost of owning property in Lagos knows that this is no small achievement.

The second interview was with a woman in another part of Lagos. She explained that she invested about ₦12,000 daily and made at least ₦5,000 profit. That represents an impressive return on investment. Few legitimate businesses in today's Nigeria consistently produce such margins.

Many Nigerians underestimate small businesses simply because they appear ordinary. Yet some of these "ordinary" businesses generate extraordinary income. There is nothing humiliating about earning an honest living. Every legitimate occupation deserves respect.
Not every police officer will become the Inspector General. Not every soldier will become a General. Not everyone working in a hospital will become a doctor. Society functions because different people occupy different positions with dignity and excellence.

In my book, Businesses That Can Never Fail, Even If You Plan To Fail, I discuss several businesses that meet every day human needs. Food is one of them. Regardless of economic conditions, people must eat.

I know a graduate in Iyana Church, Ibadan, who, after years of searching unsuccessfully for employment, started selling rice. Today, he employs other people, drives a good car, and owns a beautiful house not far from where I live. Had he considered the business beneath him, he might still be depending on his parents.

So, what exactly is degrading about selling akara or kulikuli? How is it fundamentally different from selling rice, amala, porridge, or any other prepared food? Instead of appreciating the encouragement to explore viable business opportunities, many people chose to attack the messenger, largely because of political differences.

At Akobo, Ojurin Junction in Ibadan, there were two young Igbo men who sold fried plantain every evening between 6:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Anyone who observed their business could tell they were making good money. Today, there are many similar roadside food businesses across Ibadan that are thriving.

Must we reject a good idea simply because it comes from someone whose politics we oppose? Ironically, many of those criticizing Mrs. Tinubu today were themselves raised by parents whose livelihoods came from similar small businesses.

What is wrong with starting from humble beginnings? Has the dignity of labour become an outdated value? Must everyone aspire only to white-collar jobs while looking down on honest entrepreneurship?

Many successful business empires began with modest ventures.

The Eleganza Group traces its roots to its founder, Chief Razaq Okoya, who started by selling wristwatches and other small items in Lagos before building one of Nigeria's most recognizable manufacturing brands.

In my hometown of Efon-Alaaye, there was a man who began life as a truck pusher. Before he passed away a few years ago, he had expanded into automobile sales, printing, farming, and construction. He became one of the wealthiest men in the town and left behind accomplished children. His story is not unique. Thousands of Nigerians have similar testimonies.

There is something we can learn from the entrepreneurial culture of the United States and Europe. Many enduring business empires grew from small family enterprises. Companies such as Starbucks began with a simple idea and expanded over time through consistency, innovation, and good management. Small beginnings should never be despised.

One principle I constantly teach young people is this: Start something. Just start.

You may not be able to build a refinery like Dangote today, but you can begin by selling Kerosene like Obat, the Olugbo of igbo kingdom did. You may not establish a manufacturing empire overnight like Eleganza, but you can start by selling simple products. You may not own a major automobile dealership immediately, but you can begin by helping people buy and sell cars like Elizade, the Toyota Magnate and owner of Elizade University located in Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State, Nigeria did.

Every great business was once a small business.

If your starting point is an akara stand, there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. What matters is your vision, your discipline, your willingness to improve, and your consistency.

Never be ashamed of honest work. Today's small enterprise may become tomorrow's business empire.

Otunba Jide Omiyale (Amateur political analyst and SME expert)

fasho01:
Not trying to be insensitive, but I know a woman that trained 5 children and even sponsored 2 abroad for further education.

Don't look down on it, that's my point. Take the message and leave the messenger

TylerForbes:
See your brain 🧠

​You’re comparing ventures that have been running for years with something you’re just trying to launch today. You’re talking about 50k like it’s still 2015 when that amount could set you up properly. Do you even know how much a paint of beans costs now? It’s 5k! By the time you buy a big pot, gas, and all the other necessary ingredients, you’re looking at 30k minimum—and that’s if you’re lucky. Even a POS business is nearly impossible to start with 50k unless you already have a shop space.

​I guess our First Lady will also advise Seyi or his own kids to go and start an akara business instead of spending their family wealth, right? It’s only someone who is way too familiar with poverty that reasons like this. Meanwhile, the children of House of Reps members are securing jobs in top-tier companies, but here you are, telling others to go and fry akara.
​
What a shame. I'll take this as a rage bait 🚶‍♂️