As Nigeria joined the global community to mark International Hawkers' Day for the first time, the Nigeria Union of Hawkers (NUH) has urged federal and state governments to recognize street hawking as a vital part of the country's informal SME sector and to implement policies that protect and empower street entrepreneurs.
In a statement to commemorate the 2025 edition themed "Empowering Street Entrepreneurs: Dignity, Rights, and Recognition," NUH President Comrade Babalola emphasized that hawking has become a lifeline for over 15 million Nigerians, including unemployed graduates and low-income families.
"Hawkers are micro-entrepreneurs contributing to the economy daily. It's time they received the support and recognition due to any SME operator," Babalola said, calling for clear policies, legal protection, and better working conditions to integrate hawkers into the mainstream business ecosystem.
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The NUH also condemned the exploitation of child hawkers, describing it as a threat to national development and security. Babalola revealed that the union is developing a national hawkers' database and rolling out support initiatives like training programs, healthcare assistance, and scholarships, all aimed at transforming hawking into a more structured and dignified form of small-scale business.
The union thanked state governments in Cross River, Anambra, Niger, Borno, Kano, and Ebonyi for their ongoing financial support to hawkers and urged others to collaborate with the union on infrastructure and business safety for street-based SMEs.
International Hawkers' Day, observed annually on May 26, celebrates the economic and cultural contributions of hawkers worldwide. This year marked Nigeria's first official participation, spotlighting the urgent need to support street-level entrepreneurship as a cornerstone of grassroots economic development.
