My Mother Raised Me, Paid My School Fees With Akara Money — Defence Minister Backs First Lady’s Initiative

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has thrown his weight behind First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s support for petty traders, revealing that his mother raised him and paid his school fees through proceeds from selling akara and akamu.

Speaking at a one-day training and financial empowerment workshop for widows and wives of military personnel at Lungi Barracks in Abuja, the minister said there is dignity in every honest means of livelihood and urged Nigerians not to look down on small-scale businesses.

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).

His comments come amid public reactions to the First Lady’s recent financial empowerment initiative for akara sellers and other petty traders, which drew both praise and criticism from different quarters.

Sharing his personal story, Musa said he found some of the criticism surprising, stressing that many successful Nigerians owe their achievements to the sacrifices of parents engaged in small businesses.

“My mother sold akara and akamu. That was how she raised us and paid my school fees,” he said, adding that her determination and hard work laid the foundation for his success in life.

He urged Nigerians to embrace entrepreneurship and lawful means of earning a living, noting that no legitimate business is too small to create opportunities or transform lives.

According to the Defence Minister, petty trading has empowered countless families across the country, and those engaged in such ventures deserve encouragement rather than ridicule.

He also commended the First Lady’s initiative, saying programmes that provide financial support and business opportunities to women and vulnerable groups would help strengthen families and promote economic self-reliance.

The empowerment programme was designed to equip widows and wives of military personnel with entrepreneurial skills, business support and financial assistance to improve their livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economy.