‘I made N10m selling akara monthly’

Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno has recalled how he made not less than N10m monthly from his akara and bread business before venturing into politics.

Eno spoke during the state’s monthly covenant prayer service on Tuesday.

The Governor said he started the business by selling akara and bread, which he packaged as “Akara Burger” before expanding into a coffee shop.

Some months ago, the First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu called on Nigerians to explore small scale businesses, including selling akara and kuli kuli, saying there is a lot to make from such overlooked ventures.

But some Nigerians took her on, wondering how sustainable selling those commodities was.

Perhaps giving credence to the First Lady's position, Eno said: “We still have that shop there. I started selling Akara and bread. Back then, I was doing Akara Burger. We open the bread and put it inside for you. People going to Exxon Mobil will buy it in the morning, take coffee.

“We started coffee shop and then they will take it. Every month, that Akara business used to give me nothing less than ₦10 million in a month.”

Eno said customers, particularly workers heading to ExxonMobil in the mornings, patronised the business.

He said the experience taught him lessons about entrepreneurship and building businesses from small beginnings.