By Hon Michael Crown When a nation’s economy is struggling, people naturally look to their leaders for hope, vision, and practical solutions. They expect policies that create industries, generate employment, attract investment, and improve the standard of living.
That is why many Nigerians found the recent remarks by First Lady Remi Tinubu disappointing.
“To start akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn or kuli kuli doesn’t take much. We have encouraged Nigerians as best as we could…”
There is nothing wrong with honest, small scale businesses. Millions of Nigerians survive through petty trading, roadside food businesses, and other forms of entrepreneurship. These jobs deserve respect because they put food on the table for many families.
The concern, however, is the message being sent.
At a time when inflation is high headline inflation hit 34.19% in June 2024, while food inflation climbed to 40.87% and countless young Nigerians are searching for opportunities, many expected the country’s leadership to speak about expanding industries, supporting manufacturers, creating technology hubs, strengthening agriculture, and building an economy where citizens can dream beyond mere survival.
The irony is difficult to ignore. While the government celebrates massive infrastructure projects such as the coastal highway, ordinary citizens are being encouraged to roast corn and sell kuli kuli by the roadside. Infrastructure is important, but development should also translate into better-paying jobs, thriving businesses, and improved living standards for the average Nigerian.
A nation of over 200 million people cannot build lasting prosperity by encouraging its citizens to remain at the lowest level of economic activity. Small businesses should be stepping stones, not the ceiling of our national ambition.
Nigerians are resilient. They will continue to hustle because they have no choice. But resilience should never become an excuse for lowering expectations. The responsibility of leadership is not merely to encourage survival it is to create conditions where people can prosper.
The real measure of good governance is not how many people are forced into roadside businesses to survive. It is how many citizens can build successful enterprises, secure meaningful employment, and provide a better future for their families.
Nigerians deserve more than survival. They deserve opportunity, dignity, and an economy that rewards hard work with real progress.
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