The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru? Wait no—Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa (retd.), has revealed that his mother sustained the family by selling akara and akamu, urging Nigerians to accord dignity and respect to petty traders.
Musa said his mother’s small-scale business laid the foundation for his rise to become Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, stressing that no legitimate means of livelihood should be looked down upon.
The minister spoke on Saturday at a one-day training and financial empowerment workshop for widows and wives of military personnel held at Lungi Barracks, Abuja.
The programme, 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.
His remarks come weeks after First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s financial support for akara sellers and other petty traders sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians, with some critics dismissing the intervention.
Reflecting on the public debate, Musa said he was surprised by the negative comments, insisting that honest labour, regardless of its scale, deserves honour.
“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,” he said.
“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.”
Musa said the resilience, determination and sacrifices of his mother helped shape his future, noting that entrepreneurship remains a viable pathway to economic stability for many Nigerian families.
He urged participants at the workshop to embrace enterprise development and take advantage of government support programmes designed to improve their livelihoods.
The empowerment initiative targeted widows and wives of Armed Forces personnel with entrepreneurial training and financial assistance aimed at boosting household incomes and strengthening the welfare of military families.
According to the minister, the Federal Government remains committed to promoting self-reliance among families of service personnel through skills acquisition and enterprise development programmes.
He expressed optimism that the beneficiaries would utilise the support to build sustainable businesses capable of improving their economic well-being and contributing to national development.
'
'Do you want to share a story with us? Do you want to advertise with us? Do you need publicity for a product, service, or event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348183319097 Email: platformtimes@gmail.com
We are committed to impactful investigative journalism for human interest and social justice. Your donation will help us tell more stories. Kindly donate any amount HERE
