Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has revealed that he generated over ₦10 million monthly from a food business selling “Akara Burgers” before venturing into politics.
Speaking during the state’s monthly covenant prayer service, Governor Eno explained how he started the business by slicing open fresh bread and stuffing it with hot akara (fried bean cake)
This fast-food breakfast combo quickly became a major hit among morning commuters and ExxonMobil workers, who regularly stopped by to pair the meal with hot coffee.
NATIONAL AKARA
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu started a major national conversation in Nigeria after giving advice to everyday citizens during a meeting in Abuja. Speaking at a Renewed Hope Initiative event, she encouraged Nigerians not to look down on small street businesses.
She suggested that people could start simple ventures such as:
- Frying and selling akara (fried bean cakes)
- Roasting and selling fresh corn by the roadside
- Making and selling kuli-kuli (crunchy peanut snacks)
- Selling everyday cooking items like tomatoes, peppers, and leafy vegetables
Her main point was very simple: these small businesses do not need a lot of money to start. Anyone with a small amount of savings can buy basic ingredients and begin selling immediately. In tough economic times, having a small business brings in quick daily cash to feed a family and cover urgent expenses
When news of her speech spread across social media, many Nigerians reacted with anger and frustration. Critics felt that a leader’s wife telling educated young people to fry akara showed that top officials were out of touch with real life.
Many people posted comments asking why university graduates should settle for selling street food instead of getting good jobs. They felt the government should focus on creating big industries rather than asking citizens to do hard manual street trade.
Senator Tinubu did not step back from her words. Instead, she came out to explain her true meaning. She stated that her intention was never to mock anyone or limit their dreams. Rather, she wanted to show that honest work is honorable, and starting small is better than sitting at home with zero income.
To prove that her words were backed by real support, the First Lady took action in Jigawa State. She launched a ₦100 million empowerment program specifically aimed at helping small market vendors.
Through this project:
- 2,000 local traders received direct financial help.
- Each trader was given a ₦50,000 cash grant.
- The money went to street vendors, market women, and vegetable sellers.
For a small trader selling peppers, tomatoes, or fried snacks, ₦50,000 is a helpful boost. It allows them to buy ingredients in larger amounts at lower prices, restock their trays, and keep their daily profits growing despite high inflation.
The public conversation about akara sellers grew so big that even President Bola Tinubu joined in with humor. During an informal dinner at the State House with news reporters, the President brought up his wife’s viral comments.
In a lighthearted moment, he playfully called her “Iya Alakara”, which means “Mother of Akara Sellers.”
The joke made the room laugh and helped reduce the political tension across the country. It showed that the First Family embraced the topic rather than trying to avoid it.
The strongest proof that starting small can lead to big success comes from the life story of Pastor Umo Eno, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State.
Long before he entered politics or became a governor, Umo Eno started at the bottom of the food and hospitality industry. He did not inherit wealth. Instead, he began with a small food service business and modest resources.
Here is how he built his enterprise step by step:
- Strict Financial Discipline: He tracked every naira carefully and avoided spending money on unnecessary items.
- Reinvesting Profits: Every time his small food business made a profit, he put that money back into buying better equipment and expanding.
- Daily Consistency: He focused on good customer service and clean food quality every single day.
Through years of steady effort, his small food venture grew into the Royalty Group, a multi-million-naira business empire that includes hotels, industrial catering, and restaurant networks across Nigeria.
Governor Umo Eno’s journey shows that a street-level business is not a dead end. Starting beside a roadside does not mean a person will stay there forever.
His story gave hope to millions of Nigerians trading in local markets. It proved that with good management, patience, and hard work, a simple food stall can eventually grow into a massive company that employs hundreds of people.
