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My Mother Sold Akara To Train Me — Presidential Aide Defends Remi Tinubu’s Advice

ByTitilope Adako

PublishedJune 28, 2026

Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, has defended First Lady Remi Tinubu’s advice urging Nigerians, particularly the unemployed, to embrace petty trading as a means of earning a living, saying her remarks were widely misunderstood.

Speaking on the Mic-On podcast, Dare said the First Lady’s call for citizens to engage in small-scale businesses such as selling akara, kuli-kuli and roasted corn was not intended to demean anyone but to encourage entrepreneurship.

He described such ventures as legitimate and respectable means of livelihood, recalling that his mother sold akara, bananas and oranges in Jos, Plateau State, to fund his education.

“My mother sold akara, bananas and oranges in Jos, Plateau State, and through this, they were able to train me. There’s nothing wrong with that,” he said.

The First Lady had attracted criticism following the remarks, with some Nigerians urging her to encourage members of her own family to take up similar businesses.

Responding to the backlash, Dare urged Nigerians not to look down on the informal sector, noting that it plays a vital role in supporting the country’s economy.

“When you look at the informal sector of our country, its resilience continues to ease this economy.

“It’s because of these small-scale entrepreneurs — those that sell akara and kuli-kuli. You find them predominantly everywhere, and also in the North. They are very significant,” he said.

According to Dare, the First Lady’s message was simply an appeal for Nigerians to acquire entrepreneurial skills and engage in productive ventures.

“Her point is that whatever it is, try and do something, have some level of entrepreneurial skill,” he added.

Titilope Adako

Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.