By Boma West
The First Lady’s recent advice that Nigerians can start an akara and kuli kuli business because it does not require much money has sparked fresh debate across the country. The statement came at a time when millions of families are struggling with rising food prices, transport costs and unemployment. While the advice may have been intended to encourage self-reliance, many Nigerians see it differently.
There is nothing wrong with selling akara or kuli kuli. These are honest businesses that have fed families and paid school fees for generations. Many successful entrepreneurs started from small businesses and built thriving enterprises. Every legitimate means of earning a living deserves respect.
The problem is not the businesses themselves. The problem is the timing and the message. Nigerians are asking whether the country’s highest office should be encouraging citizens to settle for survival instead of creating an environment where bigger dreams can become reality.
Young graduates spend years in universities hoping to become engineers, doctors, teachers, software developers and business owners. Skilled artisans dream of expanding their workshops into factories. Farmers want modern equipment that can increase production. Small business owners hope to become employers of labour. These are the ambitions many Nigerians carry. They want opportunities that match their education, skills and hard work.
The current economic hardship has made life difficult for millions of households. Inflation has reduced the value of incomes, while the cost of doing business continues to rise. Even petty traders complain that buying raw materials has become more expensive. Starting an akara business may require little capital compared to other ventures, but running it successfully is no longer as cheap as many people assume. The prices of beans, cooking oil, fuel and transportation have all increased sharply.
Public reaction has reflected this frustration. Many Nigerians argued that government officials should focus more on policies that create jobs, reduce inflation, improve electricity supply and support businesses to grow. Some viewed the advice as insensitive because it appeared to lower the expectations of citizens instead of inspiring confidence in a stronger economy. Online discussions showed that many people felt the statement failed to acknowledge the scale of the country’s economic challenges.
That does not mean entrepreneurship should be discouraged. Every economy depends on small businesses. Street food vendors, market traders and local manufacturers contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economy. Governments around the world encourage small enterprises because they create jobs and support families. The difference is that successful governments also work to help those businesses grow beyond subsistence into profitable companies.
Nigerians deserve the chance to dream beyond daily survival. They deserve access to affordable loans, stable electricity, good roads, quality education and policies that allow businesses to thrive. Citizens should not have to choose between dignity and opportunity. They should have both.
Perhaps the First Lady’s intention was to remind Nigerians that no honest work is too small. That message has value. Every decent business deserves respect. Yet leaders must also recognise that people want more than encouragement. They want hope backed by action. They want an economy where selling akara is a choice, not the only option left.
That is why this debate will continue. It is not about looking down on akara or kuli kuli. It is about asking whether a nation blessed with enormous human and natural resources should be asking its citizens merely to survive, when they should be empowered to build businesses that create wealth, employ others and transform the economy.
Leave a comment