Some people dismissed the idea as unrealistic.
Others turned it into jokes, memes, and comedy skits.
Many argued that the advice failed to address the
larger economic issues facing the country.
Whether those criticisms were justified or not,
something interesting happened in the middle of all the noise.
Almost everyone focused on the akara... but very few
focused on the business lesson.
And perhaps that was the biggest opportunity we almost
missed.
Every Successful Entrepreneur Thinks Differently
Entrepreneurs have a habit of seeing possibilities
where other people see ordinary things.
One person sees a roadside food seller.
Another sees a business serving hundreds of customers
every week.
One person sees beans and cooking oil.
Another sees a product that millions of Nigerians buy
every single morning.
That difference in thinking is what separates
consumers from creators.
History has shown repeatedly that wealth is often
built, not from glamorous ideas, but from solving everyday problems
consistently.
The Product Isn't the Story
If we're honest, akara has been part of Nigerian life
for generations.
People buy it before going to work.
Students eat it before lectures.
Commercial drivers stop for it on busy mornings.
Market traders rely on it for breakfast.
Parents buy it for their children.
The demand already exists.
The real question isn't whether akara is popular.
The question is whether someone can build a profitable
business around a product that people already buy every day.
The answer is yes.
Not because akara is magical.
But because every business starts with customers.
Small Businesses Keep Economies Alive
Across Nigeria, millions of families survive because
of small businesses.
Someone sells bread.
Someone repairs phones.
Someone runs a barbing salon.
Someone operates a tailoring shop.
Someone sells vegetables.
Someone prepares breakfast.
These businesses may not make national headlines, but
together they create jobs, feed families, and keep communities functioning.
Imagine if every honest small business suddenly
disappeared.
How would people eat?
How would children get to school?
Who would provide essential daily services?
Small businesses are often the invisible engine of an
economy.
We Often Celebrate Success but Mock the Beginning
There is an interesting contradiction in society.
People admire successful entrepreneurs.
They celebrate those who own restaurant chains, food
companies, and catering businesses.
But many of those same people laugh at someone selling
food from a small roadside stand.
What they forget is that nearly every successful
business has a humble beginning.
Before there were multiple branches...
There was one location.
Before there were dozens of employees...
There was one hardworking owner.
Before there was a recognized brand...
There was simply a person trying to serve customers
well.
Every giant tree was once a tiny seed.
The Real Lesson Is About Mindset
Perhaps Remi Tinubu's comments have less to do with
akara than with mindset.
Too many people reject opportunities simply because
they don't look impressive.
We sometimes wait for the following:
- The perfect business.
- The perfect investor.
- The perfect economy.
- The perfect amount of money.
Meanwhile, successful entrepreneurs often start with
whatever resources they already have.
They don't wait until conditions are perfect.
They improve as they grow.
That doesn't mean everyone should sell akara.
It means everyone should learn to recognize
opportunities instead of dismissing them because they appear ordinary.
Hard Work Needs Business Knowledge
Of course, working hard alone isn't enough.
Thousands of people work hard every day without
achieving the results they desire.
The difference is often knowledge.
A successful akara business requires much more than
frying bean cakes.
It requires understanding:
- Customer service.
- Food quality.
- Hygiene.
- Pricing.
- Record keeping.
- Location.
- Marketing.
The seller who understands these principles will
usually outperform someone who simply works longer hours.
Business rewards smart decisions as much as hard work.
Think Beyond the Frying Pan
Imagine two people who start selling akara today.
The first person sees it as a way to earn money every
morning.
The second person sees something much bigger.
They imagine supplying nearby offices.
They think about breakfast packages.
They consider adding pap, bread, tea, and beverages.
They register a business name.
They build relationships with schools and churches.
Eventually they employ assistants.
Open another outlet.
Launch a delivery service.
Five years later, both people started with akara.
But one built a business.
The difference wasn't the product.
The difference was vision.
There Is Honour in Honest Work
One message worth repeating is this:
There is absolutely nothing shameful about earning an
honest living.
Whether someone is a mechanic...
A farmer...
A tailor...
A baker...
Or an akara seller...
Every honest profession contributes something valuable
to society.
Real success isn't measured by whether your work looks
glamorous on social media.
It's measured by the value you create and the lives
you improve.
Perhaps We Asked the Wrong Question
Instead of asking,
"Why akara?"
Maybe we should ask,
"What opportunity am I overlooking because it
doesn't look exciting?"
That single question has changed the lives of many successful
entrepreneurs.
Some built fortunes from transport.
Others from agriculture.
Others from fashion.
Others from food.
The opportunity looked ordinary until someone
developed the vision to see more.
The Bigger Picture
The akara debate has reminded Nigerians of something
important.
Entrepreneurship isn't always about inventing
something new.
Sometimes it's about improving something familiar.
Sometimes it's about serving people better than anyone
else.
Sometimes it's about taking a common product and
building an uncommon business around it.
That lesson applies not only to akara but also to almost every small business in Nigeria.
Whether you agreed with the First Lady's comments or
not, perhaps one positive outcome has emerged.
Millions of Nigerians are talking about business.
They're discussing self-employment.
They're thinking about creating income instead of
depending entirely on salaries or waiting endlessly for jobs.
That conversation is worth having.
Because every successful entrepreneur starts with an
idea.
Every business starts with one customer.
And every success story begins with someone willing to
take the first step.
If this discussion has made you curious about the
business side of selling akara, I've prepared a FREE beginner-friendly report
titled
Start an Akara Business in Nigeria with Just ₦50,000
Inside, you'll discover:
✔
A practical startup budget.
✔
The equipment you need to begin.
✔
How to choose a profitable location.
✔
Common mistakes first-time sellers make.
✔ Simple tips to help you start with confidence.
Whether you eventually choose to sell akara or another
product entirely, one lesson remains true:
Never underestimate a small opportunity.
Sometimes the smallest ideas become the foundation of
the biggest success stories.
Click here to download your free Akara business ebook.
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