MINISTER of Defence, Christopher Musa, has reignited discussions surrounding First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s recent support for akara sellers and other petty traders, revealing that his own mother sold akamu and akara to support their family while he was growing up.
News Point Nigeria reports that the minister said he remains proud of his mother’s hard work, stressing that no Nigerian should look down on petty traders or regard honest labour as inferior. His remarks come weeks after the First Lady’s financial support for akara sellers and other small-scale traders generated mixed reactions across the country.
Musa made the remarks during a one-day training and financial empowerment workshop for widows and wives of service personnel held at Lungi Barracks in Abuja.
The workshop, themed “Renewed Hope for Families of the Armed Forces of Nigeria Through Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development,” was organised by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
Reflecting on the controversy that followed the First Lady’s intervention, the minister used his personal experience to emphasise the dignity of honest work and the importance of entrepreneurship in nation-building.
“A few weeks ago, the First Lady, the mother of the nation, contributed some amount for akara sellers and others, and I was surprised when I heard the responses from citizens.
“Standing here today as the Minister of Defence, my mother sold akamu. It is with that akamu that supported my mother to where I am today. I am very proud that my mother supported my father by selling akara and akamu.
“Don’t let anybody make you feel that selling akara and akamu is below standard,” he said.
Musa explained that his mother’s determination and willingness to support the family through small-scale trading played a significant role in shaping his journey to becoming Nigeria’s Minister of Defence.
According to him, the experience taught him that dignity lies in honest labour rather than the size or nature of one’s business, urging Nigerians to celebrate entrepreneurship instead of looking down on those engaged in petty trading.
The minister also underscored the importance of empowering women, particularly families of military personnel, through skills acquisition and enterprise development as a means of improving their economic well-being.
The empowerment programme, he noted, was designed to equip widows and wives of service personnel with entrepreneurial skills and financial support as part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to improve the welfare of military families and promote sustainable enterprise development.
He encouraged the participants to take advantage of the opportunity to build successful businesses that would strengthen their families and contribute to the nation’s economic growth, stressing that every successful venture begins with determination and a willingness to work hard.