The First Lady is right: Before we start importing corn roasters too

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu's recent encouragement for Nigerian women to engage in productive small businesses, such as making akara, kulikuli, and roasting corn, is a practical and patriotic call to action. The sentiment is that seemingly small ventures can grow into substantial enterprises, a trajectory seen in many of Nigeria's current leading eateries and food brands.

Examples abound across Nigeria, illustrating this growth potential. In Ibadan, Amala Sky, now a popular eatery in the upscale Bodija area, began as a street vendor within Bodija Market. Similarly, Mama Ope, another prominent food business, started by hawking rice in Mokola Market. These women, who began with modest setups, have since expanded into entrepreneurs with multiple branches, even reaching Abuja. The northern regions echo this success with kulikuli and corn roasting businesses, where roadside vendors have evolved into packaged food suppliers for national supermarkets.

The article highlights a concerning trend where certain trades, like akara production, were once dominated by Ghanaians in cities such as Lagos and Ibadan. This occurred because local makers underestimated the trade's potential, allowing foreign entrepreneurs to organize, scale, and profit significantly. This serves as a national warning, extending beyond food to building and allied trades, where bricklayers, tilers, plumbers, and furniture makers are now often imported from across West Africa.

Senator Tinubu's message is not about limiting ambition but about starting with accessible opportunities. These small trades are presented as entry points that teach fundamental business principles like capital formation, discipline, and scaling. By embracing them, the goal is to keep capital circulating within Nigerian communities, fostering economic independence and preventing the outflow of money and skills. Ignoring these foundational trades, the piece argues, leads to a continued reliance on foreign labor for essential services and a missed opportunity for national economic resurgence.