Ikechukwu Samuel
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has revealed that his mother sold akamu and akara to sustain their family, stressing that he remains proud of her resilience and urging Nigerians not to undermine petty traders.
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 partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria.
His comments followed weeks after First Lady Oluremi Tinubu extended financial support to akara sellers and petty traders, a gesture that sparked mixed reactions among Nigerians.
Reflecting on the criticism, Musa shared his personal story to highlight the dignity of honest work and the importance of entrepreneurship in uplifting families.
“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.”
Musa explained that his mother’s determination and commitment to supporting the family through small-scale trading played a crucial role in his journey to becoming Nigeria’s Defence Minister.
The empowerment programme was designed to provide participants with entrepreneurial skills and financial support, aligning with the Federal Government’s efforts to improve the welfare of military families and promote enterprise development.
