- Christopher Musa revealed that his mother sold akamu and akara to support the family, saying he is proud of her hard work and urging Nigerians not to look down on petty traders.
- Musa made these remarks at a one-day training and financial empowerment workshop for widows and wives of service personnel at Lungi Barracks in Abuja.
- The workshop was themed “Renewed Hope for Families of the Armed Forces of Nigeria Through Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development,” organized by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria.
- First Lady Oluremi Tinubu provided financial support for akara sellers and other petty traders weeks before the workshop, which drew mixed reactions from some Nigerians.
- Musa expressed surprise at the mixed reactions from citizens regarding the financial support provided by the First Lady.
- He emphasized that his mother’s determination and willingness to support the family through small-scale trading played a significant role in his journey to becoming Nigeria’s Minister of Defence.
- Musa urged Nigerians not to look down on petty traders, stating that there is dignity in honest work regardless of the scale of the business.
During a recent workshop in Abuja, Nigeria's Defence Minister Christopher Musa emphasized the importance of petty trading, sharing his personal story of how his mother sold *akamu* and *akara* to support their family.1
"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," Musa stated, highlighting the role of small businesses in shaping his future.
The workshop, themed “Renewed Hope for Families of the Armed Forces of Nigeria Through Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development,” aimed to empower widows and wives of military personnel with entrepreneurial skills and financial support.3
Musa urged Nigerians to recognize the dignity in honest work, regardless of its scale, stating, “Don’t let anybody make you feel that selling *akara* and *akamu* is below standard.” His remarks come in the wake of mixed reactions to financial support provided by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to petty traders, which he found surprising.457
The initiative reflects the Federal Government's commitment to improving the welfare of military families and promoting enterprise development, as Musa encouraged participants to embrace opportunities for economic empowerment.
“Musa spoke at a one-day training and financial empowerment workshop for widows and wives of service personnel at Lungi Barracks in Abuja. He recalled the criticism that followed First Lady Oluremi Tinubu's recent financial support for akara sellers, saying he was surprised by citizens' responses.”
