Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has revealed that his akara and bread business once generated at least N10 million in monthly revenue before he ventured into politics.
Eno made the disclosure during the state’s monthly covenant prayer service, where he recounted his early experience as an entrepreneur.
According to the governor, he started by selling akara and bread, which he branded as “Akara Burger”, before expanding the venture into a coffee shop.
He said workers, particularly those heading to ExxonMobil in the mornings, became regular customers who bought the food along with coffee.
Eno said the experience taught him valuable lessons about entrepreneurship and how small businesses can grow into profitable ventures.
His revelation has renewed attention on the potential of small-scale businesses, months after First Lady Oluremi Tinubu encouraged Nigerians to consider ventures such as akara and kuli-kuli as ways of improving their livelihoods.
The First Lady had also announced a N100 million empowerment programme for 2,000 petty traders in Jigawa State, with each beneficiary receiving N50,000 to support their businesses.
President Bola Tinubu later joined the conversation by jokingly referring to his wife as “Iya Alakara” during a Presidential Press Corps Dinner.
