By Grace Abe, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)
A popular Yoruba proverb says, “Bí a bá fẹ́ rìn jìnà, a gbọdọ̀ bẹ̀rẹ̀ pẹ̀lú ìgbésẹ̀ kan”, meaning, a long journey begins with a single step.
The proverb reflects the reality that major achievements often start from humble beginnings.
The saying underscores the experiences of many entrepreneurs who gradually build successful ventures through patience, consistency and determination despite limited initial resources.
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.
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.
They shared personal experiences showing how modest beginnings, persistence and gradual growth have helped them build sustainable businesses despite initial financial and operational challenges.
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.
Mrs Anike Adeniran, a small scale entrepreneur, told NAN that she started her provisions business with N20,000 and displayed her goods on a table outside her residence.
According to her, she ventured into business after spending more than 10 years teaching in private schools with limited income.
“I am a graduate, a wife and a mother. My teaching job was not enough because I needed to support my husband.
“I resigned and ventured into business. I started the business a year ago with just N20,000 and no shop.
“I bought goods, displayed them on a table and converted part of my house entrance into a shop.
“Today, I have goods worth more than N500,000 and record daily sales of at least N30,000,” she said.
According to Adeniran, every big dream starts with a small beginning, and the seed of a mighty tree is tiny.
She contended that perseverance and hard work will continue to transform small ventures into thriving businesses.
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.
Yusuf said attracting customers was difficult in the early years and she often relied on relatives for financial support.
Despite the challenges, she said she remained committed to producing quality designs and serving customers diligently.
“Through consistent service and customer referrals, my business gradually expanded.
“Today, I own a modern fashion house, employ more than 20 workers and supply clothing to customers across Nigeria,” Yusuf added.
She attributed her success to patience, discipline and continuous learning, noting that every setback became an opportunity for improvement.
Also speaking, Mr Chinedu Okafor said he began poultry farming with fewer than 100 birds in his compound.
Okafor said inadequate capital, disease outbreaks and rising feed costs threatened the survival of the business in its early years.
He said he attended agricultural training programmes and adopted modern farming techniques to improve productivity.
“These efforts helped me improve productivity and reduce losses.
“As demand for my products increased, I expanded operations and secured partnerships with local distributors.
“My farm now produces thousands of birds annually and supplies poultry products to several states,” he said.
Okafor stressed that resilience remained essential for business growth, especially during periods of slow returns.
Similarly, Hajia Hauwa Bello said she started her business as a roadside food vendor with limited capital.
Bello said she sold meals from a small wooden stall near the busy Dutse Market in Bwari Area Council and focused on quality service.
“My dedication to hygiene and customer satisfaction quickly distinguished me from competitors.
“Many customers returned regularly and recommended my services to others.
“As my income improved, I reinvested my earnings, expanded the menu, hired staff and opened a modest restaurant.
“Years later, that small food stall has grown into a chain of restaurants serving hundreds of customers daily,” Bello said.
She added that the business now provides employment opportunities for dozens of young people.
A Business Development Consultant, Mrs Deborah Bamidele, attributed reluctance to start small businesses to impatience, fear of failure and social media influence.
Bamidele said many aspiring entrepreneurs delayed business plans while waiting to secure substantial funding.
“Unfortunately, this approach often delays business take-off and reduces opportunities for learning and growth,” she said.
According to her, entrepreneurs who borrow heavily without market experience often struggle to sustain their ventures.
She said starting modestly enables entrepreneurs to test ideas, understand market demands and gain valuable experience with minimal risk.
“Starting small should not be viewed as a sign of weakness but as a practical business strategy that promotes sustainability and long-term success.
“Most 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,” Bamidele said.
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.
They advised entrepreneurs to focus on building profitable and resilient businesses rather than pursuing rapid expansion that may prove financially unsustainable.
They also urged business owners to adopt a long-term perspective and maximise available resources while growing steadily.
According to them, sustainable entrepreneurship is built on consistency, innovation and patience rather than the size of initial capital.
No doubt, the experiences shared by the entrepreneurs demonstrate that determination, resilience and continuous improvement can transform small ventures into thriving enterprises.
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)
Edited by Rotimi Ijikanmi
*** if used credit the writer and the News Agency of Nigeria