Akara Business Made Me N10m Monthly Before Politics

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has revealed that he once earned not less than N10 million every month from his akara and bread business before venturing into politics.

The Governor made the disclosure during the State’s monthly covenant prayer service held on Tuesday, a statement from the event which began trending on social media on Wednesday.

Eno explained that his entrepreneurial journey started on a small scale with the sale of akara and bread. He said he later developed the idea into what he described as an “Akara Burger”, before expanding the business into a coffee shop.

According to the Governor, the business attracted significant patronage, particularly from workers heading to ExxonMobil in the mornings.

“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.

“We started coffee shop and then they will take it. Every month, that Akara business used to give me nothing less than ₦10 million in a month,” Eno said.

Global Mirror News gathered that the Governor’s account has drawn renewed attention to the possibility of building profitable enterprises from relatively modest beginnings, particularly at a time when many Nigerians are turning to petty trading and small businesses as alternative sources of income.

Eno said his experience in the business environment exposed him to important lessons about entrepreneurship, customer service and the process of growing a business from a small operation into a more established venture.

The Governor’s revelation comes months after First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, generated controversy following her encouragement of Nigerians to explore small businesses such as akara and kuli-kuli as part of efforts to improve household 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 roasting corn could be established with relatively little capital.

“We’re trying to give hope, and to start Akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kuli kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant,” she said.

Her remarks subsequently attracted criticism on social media, with some Nigerians questioning whether such businesses could provide meaningful economic relief amid the rising cost of living and increasing operating expenses.

The First Lady later defended the empowerment initiative, clarifying that it was not designed exclusively for akara sellers.

She explained that the programme also covered other petty traders and small-scale operators, including tomato sellers, roasted plantain sellers, pepper traders and vegetable sellers.

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

President Bola Tinubu later joined the public conversation around the initiative when he jokingly referred to his wife as “Iya Alakara” during a Presidential Press Corps Dinner.

With Governor Eno now sharing his personal experience of making millions from an akara-based enterprise, the discussion has once again shifted towards the economic potential of small and informal businesses.

His account also reinforces the argument that entrepreneurship can begin with seemingly ordinary products and services when there is sufficient demand, effective management and the ability to expand with time.

However, the Governor’s claim of earning N10 million monthly from the akara business has also generated interest, particularly regarding the period in which the business operated and the scale at which it was being run.

Eno’s revelation adds a personal dimension to the continuing national conversation about entrepreneurship, small businesses and how Nigerians can create sustainable sources of income in the face of economic challenges.

Global Mirror News reports that the Governor’s story has continued to attract attention because it presents a notable example of a political leader recounting a business venture he says provided substantial monthly income before his entry into public office.