By Grace Abe, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)<\/p>\n
A popular Yoruba proverb says, \u201cB\u00ed a b\u00e1 f\u1eb9\u0301 r\u00ecn j\u00ecn\u00e0, a gb\u1ecdd\u1ecd\u0300 b\u1eb9\u0300r\u1eb9\u0300 p\u1eb9\u0300l\u00fa \u00ecgb\u00e9s\u1eb9\u0300 kan\u201d, meaning, a long journey begins with a single step.<\/p>\n
The proverb reflects the reality that major achievements often start from humble beginnings.<\/p>\n
The saying underscores the experiences of many entrepreneurs who gradually build successful ventures through patience, consistency and determination despite limited initial resources.<\/p>\n
Business experts say, starting small should not be seen as a setback but as a strategic foundation for learning, adaptation and sustainable expansion over time.<\/p>\n
In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), a cross section of small and medium-scale entrepreneurs in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) reflected on this philosophy and how it has shaped their business journeys.<\/p>\n
They shared personal experiences showing how modest beginnings, persistence and gradual growth have helped them build sustainable businesses despite initial financial and operational challenges.<\/p>\n
Across Nigeria, small and medium-scale businesses continue to play a vital role in job creation and economic growth, even as operators navigate financial constraints and market uncertainties.<\/p>\n
Mrs Anike Adeniran, a small scale\u00a0 entrepreneur, told NAN that she started her provisions business with N20,000 and displayed her goods on a table outside her residence.<\/p>\n
According to her, she ventured into business after spending more than 10 years teaching in private schools with limited income.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am a graduate, a wife and a mother. My teaching job was not enough because I needed to support my husband.<\/p>\n
\u201cI resigned and ventured into business. I started the business a year ago with just N20,000 and no shop.<\/p>\n
\u201cI bought goods, displayed them on a table and converted part of my house entrance into a shop.
\u201cToday, I have goods worth more than N500,000 and record daily sales of at least N30,000,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
According to Adeniran, every big dream starts with a small beginning, and the seed of a mighty tree is tiny.<\/p>\n
She contended that perseverance and hard work will continue to transform small ventures into thriving businesses.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Mrs Amina Yusuf, a fashion designer in Bwari, FCT, said she started her business from a room in her family house with one sewing machine.<\/p>\n
Yusuf said attracting customers was difficult in the early years and she often relied on relatives for financial support.<\/p>\n
Despite the challenges, she said she remained committed to producing quality designs and serving customers diligently.<\/p>\n
\u201cThrough consistent service and customer referrals, my business gradually expanded.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, I own a modern fashion house, employ more than 20 workers and supply clothing to customers across Nigeria,\u201d Yusuf added.<\/p>\n
She attributed her success to patience, discipline and continuous learning, noting that every setback became an opportunity for improvement.<\/p>\n
Also speaking, Mr Chinedu Okafor said he began poultry farming with fewer than 100 birds in his compound.<\/p>\n
Okafor said inadequate capital, disease outbreaks and rising feed costs threatened the survival of the business in its early years.<\/p>\n
He said he attended agricultural training programmes and adopted modern farming techniques to improve productivity.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese efforts helped me improve productivity and reduce losses.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs demand for my products increased, I expanded operations and secured partnerships with local distributors.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy farm now produces thousands of birds annually and supplies poultry products to several states,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Okafor stressed that resilience remained essential for business growth, especially during periods of slow returns.<\/p>\n
Similarly, Hajia Hauwa Bello said she started her business as a roadside food vendor with limited capital.<\/p>\n
Bello said she sold meals from a small wooden stall near the busy Dutse Market in Bwari Area Council and focused on quality service.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy dedication to hygiene and customer satisfaction quickly distinguished me from competitors.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany customers returned regularly and recommended my services to others.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs my income improved, I reinvested my earnings, expanded the menu, hired staff and opened a modest restaurant.<\/p>\n
\u201cYears later, that small food stall has grown into a chain of restaurants serving hundreds of customers daily,\u201d Bello said.<\/p>\n
She added that the business now provides employment opportunities for dozens of young people.<\/p>\n
A Business Development Consultant, Mrs Deborah Bamidele, attributed reluctance to start small businesses to impatience, fear of failure and social media influence.<\/p>\n
Bamidele said many aspiring entrepreneurs delayed business plans while waiting to secure substantial funding.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, this approach often delays business take-off and reduces opportunities for learning and growth,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
According to her, entrepreneurs who borrow heavily without market experience often struggle to sustain their ventures.<\/p>\n
She said starting modestly enables entrepreneurs to test ideas, understand market demands and gain valuable experience with minimal risk.<\/p>\n
\u201cStarting small should not be viewed as a sign of weakness but as a practical business strategy that promotes sustainability and long-term success.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost big names did not start big, they started tested. Dangote started with cement trading from a small shop, Jumia started in a flat in Lagos,\u201d Bamidele said.<\/p>\n
Other experts who spoke to NAN agreed with Bamidele that many successful enterprises began with limited resources and expanded gradually through discipline, reinvestment and strategic decision-making.<\/p>\n
They advised entrepreneurs to focus on building profitable and resilient businesses rather than pursuing rapid expansion that may prove financially unsustainable.<\/p>\n
They also urged business owners to adopt a long-term perspective and maximise available resources while growing steadily.<\/p>\n
According to them, sustainable entrepreneurship is built on consistency, innovation and patience rather than the size of initial capital.<\/p>\n
No doubt, the experiences shared by the entrepreneurs demonstrate that determination, resilience and continuous improvement can transform small ventures into thriving enterprises.<\/p>\n
Stakeholders say aspiring entrepreneurs should view humble beginnings as opportunities for learning, adaptation and growth, rather than barriers to achieving long-term business success. (NAN Features)<\/p>\n
Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi<\/p>\n
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