Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has revealed that he once made not less than N10m monthly from selling akara and bread before venturing into politics.
Eno disclosed this during the state’s monthly covenant prayer service on Tuesday, with his account attracting attention on social media on Wednesday.
The governor said his business journey started with a small akara and bread venture, which he branded as “Akara Burger”, before expanding into a coffee shop.
‘I Started With Akara And Bread’
Recalling his early days as an entrepreneur, Eno said his akara business attracted workers heading to ExxonMobil, who would stop by in the mornings to buy akara, bread and coffee.
“We still have that shop there. I started selling Akara and bread. Back then, I was doing Akara Burger. We open the bread and put it inside for you. People going to Exxon Mobil will buy it in the morning, take coffee,” he said.
According to the governor, the business later expanded into a coffee shop, further increasing its earnings.
“Every month, that Akara business used to give me nothing less than ₦10 million in a month,” Eno said.
Business Taught Me Entrepreneurship — Eno
Eno said the experience played an important role in shaping his understanding of entrepreneurship and showed him that successful businesses could grow from relatively small beginnings.
His account has since renewed conversations about the potential of small-scale businesses to provide sustainable livelihoods for Nigerians.
Tinubu’s ‘Akara’ Comment Comes Back Into Focus
The governor’s revelation comes months after First Lady Oluremi Tinubu encouraged Nigerians to explore small businesses such as akara and kuli-kuli as a way of improving their livelihoods.
Speaking after a Renewed Hope Initiative meeting with wives of state governors in Abuja in June, the First Lady said businesses such as akara selling and roasted corn could be started with relatively little capital.
“We’re trying to give hope, and to start Akara business doesn’t take a lot of money,” she said.
She added that beneficiaries of the initiative received grants rather than loans.
Nigerians Criticised First Lady’s Advice
The First Lady’s comments generated criticism on social media, with some Nigerians accusing her of being disconnected from the economic realities confronting citizens.
She later clarified that the empowerment programme was not restricted to akara sellers, explaining that it also covered tomato sellers, roasted plantain sellers, pepper and vegetable traders.
The initiative included a N100m intervention for 2,000 petty traders in Jigawa State, with each beneficiary receiving N50,000 to recapitalise their businesses.
Tinubu Joked About ‘Iya Alakara’
President Bola Tinubu later joined the conversation during a Presidential Press Corps Dinner, where he jokingly referred to his wife as “Iya Alakara”.
With Eno now revealing that he once earned millions of naira from an akara business himself, the governor’s story has added a new dimension to the debate over whether small-scale businesses can provide a viable path out of economic hardship.
His experience also highlights how businesses that begin on a modest scale can, with the right strategy and patronage, grow into profitable enterprises.
