Defence Minister: My Mother Sold Akamu, Akara to Support Us

Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has shared how his mother’s small-scale trading helped sustain their family, urging Nigerians to respect petty traders.

Musa spoke in Abuja at a one-day empowerment workshop for widows and wives of military personnel, organized by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).

The program, focused on entrepreneurship and enterprise development, is part of efforts to improve the welfare of military families through skills training and financial support.

Reflecting on recent criticism of financial support given to petty traders by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, Musa said his mother sold akamu and akara to support the family, adding that he remains proud of her efforts.

He stressed that honest work, regardless of scale, should not be looked down upon, noting that small businesses can play a vital role in supporting families and building livelihoods.

The minister also encouraged participants to embrace entrepreneurship as a pathway to financial stability.

Empowerment programs targeting widows and vulnerable groups have increasingly been used to promote self-reliance and economic resilience in Nigeria.