Why Every Nigerian Must Understand Nano Enterprises Before Criticising Akara Sellers, Kuli-Kuli Producers and Other Small Businesses
INTRODUCTION: A NATIONAL CONVERSATION WE MUST HAVE
Recently, comments made by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, encouraging support for petty traders such as Akara sellers, Kuli-kuli producers, roadside food vendors, and other small businesses generated widespread reactions across social media.
Unfortunately, much of the criticism exposed a deeper national challenge — not the comments themselves, but a widespread lack of entrepreneurship education.
Many young Nigerians do not understand the entrepreneurship ecosystem. They see an Akara seller or Kuli-kuli producer as someone engaged in a “small” or “insignificant” business, without realizing these businesses belong to the Nano Enterprise category — the foundation upon which successful Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are built.
This misunderstanding reinforces the urgent need for the National Entrepreneurship Education Initiative (NEEI).
A STRATEGIC WORKING VISIT TO THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF EDUCATION
To advance this national vision, Asiwaju Olubunmi Oluwadare, FG-BDSP, Convener of NEEI, paid a strategic working visit to the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, at his office in Abuja.
The discussion centred on one critical question:
How can Nigeria transform its education system into a factory that produces Job Makers instead of Job Seekers?
The visit formed part of ongoing advocacy for the nationwide integration of entrepreneurship education from primary school through adulthood.
WHY NIGERIA NEEDS ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION
Nigeria has one of the world’s largest youth populations, yet every year thousands of graduates enter a labour market with limited employment opportunities.
The traditional mindset of graduating solely to seek white-collar jobs is no longer sustainable.
The solution is to equip Nigerians with the skills to identify opportunities, create businesses, solve problems, and generate wealth.
This is the mission of NEEI.
UNDERSTANDING NANO ENTERPRISES
The recent public debate also revealed that many Nigerians are unfamiliar with the various categories of businesses.
The entrepreneurship ecosystem includes:
Nano → Micro → Small → Medium → Large Enterprises → Corporations and Multinational Companies
Every multinational company started somewhere. Most successful businesses began as Nano or Micro Enterprises.
An Akara seller is not “just frying beans.”
A Kuli-kuli producer is not “just selling snacks.”
They are entrepreneurs generating income, supporting families, creating jobs, buying from farmers, paying transporters, renting shops, purchasing packaging materials, and contributing to economic growth.
SMEs: THE ENGINE ROOM OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Across the world, SMEs are recognised as the backbone of prosperous economies.
They contribute significantly to:
Job creation • Wealth creation • Manufacturing • Agricultural development • Innovation • Poverty reduction • Export growth • Tax revenue • Community development
No country has achieved sustainable economic growth without strong SMEs. Nigeria cannot be an exception.
EVERY BIG BUSINESS STARTED SMALL
Companies like Dangote Industries did not become global brands overnight.
Most successful entrepreneurs started with limited capital but grew through consistency, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Instead of mocking Nano Enterprises, Nigeria should celebrate them.
Today’s roadside food vendor could become tomorrow’s food processing company.
Today’s Kuli-kuli producer could become an international snack exporter.
Today’s tailor could become tomorrow’s global fashion brand.
Entrepreneurship education helps people understand this journey.
THE VISION OF NEEI
The National Entrepreneurship Education Initiative was established to change Nigeria’s mindset from consumption to production.
Mission: To create Job Makers across Nigeria.
Rather than producing graduates who only seek employment, Nigeria should deliberately produce innovators, manufacturers, investors, exporters, and entrepreneurs.
STARTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION EARLY
Entrepreneurship education should begin from primary school by teaching children:
Creativity • Problem-solving • Leadership • Innovation • Financial literacy • Saving culture • Business ethics • Teamwork • Opportunity identification
These skills prepare young Nigerians for productive adulthood.
A LIFELONG ENTREPRENEURSHIP LEARNING ECOSYSTEM
NEEI serves:
Primary School Pupils → Secondary School Students → Higher Institution Students → Graduates → NYSC Members → Job Seekers → MSMEs → Entrepreneurs → Business Owners
Every Nigerian deserves access to entrepreneurship education.
UNI-PRENEUR EHUB
NEEI is powered by Uni-Preneur eHub, a digital entrepreneurship platform offering:
Online masterclasses • Practical business training • Entrepreneurship eBooks • Business tools • Mentorship • Certification • Continuous learning support
Technology enables entrepreneurship education to reach millions across Nigeria.
“I SEE MONEY IN AFRICA”
One of the proposals presented during the Abuja meeting was the adoption of “I SEE MONEY IN AFRICA”, the award-winning entrepreneurship book by Asiwaju Olubunmi Oluwadare.
The book teaches readers to identify opportunities hidden in everyday life, see abundance instead of scarcity, and create opportunities rather than wait for them.
BUILDING A PRODUCTIVE NIGERIA
A productive nation is built by productive citizens.
Productive citizens → establish businesses → employ people → generate income → drive production → grow the economy.
The cycle begins with entrepreneurship education.
No government can sustainably employ every graduate.
The private sector remains the largest creator of jobs, and entrepreneurs are the builders of the private sector.
THE WAY FORWARD
NEEI recommends:
1. Entrepreneurship education from primary school to university
2. Nationwide digital learning through Uni-Preneur eHub
3. Adoption of entrepreneurship books and practical learning resources
4. Entrepreneurship clubs in schools
5. Strong partnerships between government, educational institutions, financial institutions, and the private sector
6. Continuous mentorship for learners and entrepreneurs
7. Promotion of innovation, technology, manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, exports, and the creative economy
CONCLUSION: NIGERIA NEEDS JOB MAKERS
The strategic working visit to the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, reaffirmed a shared commitment to building a more productive Nigeria through quality education.
Entrepreneurship education is no longer optional — it is a national economic necessity.
The future belongs to nations that produce innovators, creators, manufacturers, exporters, and entrepreneurs.
Nigeria must move beyond producing graduates who only seek employment. The nation must deliberately produce Job Makers.
The National Entrepreneurship Education Initiative (NEEI) provides a practical roadmap for achieving this transformation.
A productive Nigeria begins with productive minds, and productive minds are built through Entrepreneurship Education.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Asiwaju Olubunmi Oluwadare is a renowned entrepreneurship development expert, Federal Government Licensed National Business Development Service Provider (FG-BDSP), and Convener of the National Entrepreneurship Education Initiative (NEEI).
He is the Founder of Uni-Preneur eHub http://www.uni-preneur.com and GetAJob.ng http://www.getajob.ng, platforms dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and job seekers across Nigeria and Africa.
As Chairman of BEEXO GROUP http://www.beexogroup.com, he continues to champion business innovation and enterprise development.
He is also the author of the award-winning book “I SEE MONEY IN AFRICA”, which promotes opportunity recognition and entrepreneurship as drivers of Africa’s economic transformation.
GET IN TOUCH
Email: [email protected]
WhatsApp: +234 816 474 2609
Website: www.uni-preneur.com
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