Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has urged Nigerians to respect petty traders, saying no honest job should be looked down upon.
Speaking at a one-day entrepreneurship and financial empowerment workshop for widows and wives of military personnel in Abuja, Musa revealed that his mother supported the family by selling akara and akamu.
He said her hard work helped shape his future and eventually contributed to his becoming the Minister of Defence.
“I am 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 not a respectable job,” he said.
The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Defence in partnership with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
It aimed to equip military families with business skills and financial support.
Musa encouraged participants to make good use of the opportunity, saying entrepreneurship can help families become financially independent and improve their standard of living.
His comments come amid public debate over the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s financial support for akara sellers and other petty traders under the Renewed Hope Initiative.
While some Nigerians praised the programme for helping small business owners, others argued that the country’s economic challenges require broader solutions.