The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare, has said his mother sustained their family through small-scale trading, recalling that she sold akara, bananas, and oranges to support his education.

Dare made the remark while defending First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s recent comments encouraging Nigerians to embrace small-scale entrepreneurship as a means of livelihood and economic empowerment.

According to him, the First Lady’s message was aimed at promoting self-reliance and encouraging Nigerians to engage in productive activities, regardless of the scale of their capital.

He explained that informal trading remains a major part of Nigeria’s economy and has historically helped many families survive and achieve upward mobility.

Dare added that his personal experience reflects the importance of starting small, noting that many successful individuals began from modest backgrounds and built their way up through hard work and entrepreneurship.

The comments have continued to generate public reactions, with mixed opinions on the relevance of small-scale trading as a solution to Nigeria’s current economic challenges.