Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has revealed that his akara and bread business was generating no less than ₦10 million monthly before he ventured fully into politics.
Eno made the disclosure while speaking during the state’s monthly covenant prayer service, where he reflected on his entrepreneurial journey before becoming governor.
The governor said he transformed the traditional combination of akara and bread into what he branded as an “Akara Burger.”
According to him, the business involved putting freshly fried akara inside sliced bread and serving it with coffee.
Eno explained that the business attracted significant patronage from workers, particularly those heading to ExxonMobil facilities in the mornings.
“We still have that shop there. I started selling akara and bread… doing Akara Burger,” he said.
“People going to work in ExxonMobil would buy it in the morning, take coffee. Every month, that akara and bread business used to give me nothing less than N10 million.”
The governor said the venture later expanded into a functional coffee shop, becoming part of his wider business interests in hospitality and tourism.
His entrepreneurial activities preceded his appointment as a commissioner and his eventual election as governor of Akwa Ibom State in 2023.
The revelation has also renewed discussions about the potential of small-scale businesses and petty trading in Nigeria.
The issue recently attracted attention following comments by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who encouraged Nigerians to engage in businesses such as akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli to improve household incomes.
Eno’s account suggests that innovation, effective product packaging and access to a strong customer base can turn a small food business into a sizeable commercial venture.
