"𝗜 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗡10𝗺 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗹𝘆 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗔𝗸𝗮𝗿𝗮, 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗝𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀"---𝗔𝗸𝘄𝗮 𝗜𝗯𝗼𝗺 𝗚𝗼𝘃 𝗘𝗻𝗼.

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗮, 𝗡𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has disclosed that his akara and bread business generated at least N10 million monthly before he ventured into politics.

Governor Eno made the disclosure during the state’s monthly Covenant Prayer Service on Tuesday, where he recounted his entrepreneurial journey and how a modest food business grew into a highly profitable venture.

According to the governor, his business career began with the sale of akara and bread, which he creatively branded and packaged as “Akara Burger.” He said the venture later expanded into a coffee shop as demand for the products increased.

Eno explained that the business enjoyed considerable patronage from workers, particularly employees heading to ExxonMobil in the mornings. Customers reportedly purchased akara and bread together with coffee before proceeding to work.

The governor said the venture eventually became a successful enterprise, generating no fewer than N10 million every month.

He described the experience as one that significantly shaped his understanding of entrepreneurship, particularly the ability of small businesses to grow when properly managed and strategically positioned.

The disclosure has also renewed public discussion about recent comments by First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who encouraged Nigerians to explore small-scale businesses, including the sale of akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli, as avenues for improving their livelihoods.

The First Lady’s remarks had attracted criticism from some Nigerians, with critics arguing that such suggestions did not adequately address the economic hardship facing many citizens.

She later clarified that her empowerment programme was not limited to akara sellers, explaining that beneficiaries also included tomato sellers, plantain sellers, pepper traders and vegetable vendors.

She subsequently announced a N100 million intervention for 2,000 petty traders in Jigawa State, with each beneficiary receiving N50,000 to strengthen their businesses.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also joined the public conversation, jokingly referring to his wife as “Iya Alakara.”

Governor Eno’s account of how his own akara and bread business reportedly grew into a venture generating millions of naira monthly has further fuelled debate about the economic potential of small businesses.

His story has also provided a real-life example of how an enterprise that starts on a modest scale can, with innovation, patronage and effective management, develop into a substantial commercial venture.