Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, has urged Nigerians not to look down on petty traders, saying there is dignity in honest work regardless of the scale of the business.
Speaking at a one-day training and financial empowerment workshop for widows and wives of service personnel at Lungi Barracks in Abuja, Musa shared how his mother’s small business helped shape his future.
The workshop, themed “Renewed Hope for Families of the Armed Forces of Nigeria Through Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development,” was organised by the Ministry of Defence in collaboration with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN).
Recalling the criticism that followed recent financial support provided by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to akara sellers and other petty traders, the minister said he was surprised by some of the reactions.
“A few weeks ago, the first lady, the mother of the nation, contributed some amount for akara sellers and others, and I was surprised when I heard the responses from citizens,” he said.
Musa went on to share his family’s experience, stressing that his mother’s determination to support the household through petty trading made a lasting impact on his life.
“Standing here today as the Minister of Defence, my mother sold akamu. It is with that akamu that my mother supported me to where I am today.”
He added that his mother also sold akara alongside akamu to complement the family’s income.
“I am very 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 below standard.”
According to the minister, entrepreneurship and small-scale businesses remain important tools for economic empowerment and family support, encouraging participants at the workshop to embrace opportunities that can improve their livelihoods.
The empowerment programme was designed to equip widows and wives of Armed Forces personnel with entrepreneurial skills and financial support as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen the welfare of military families and promote enterprise development.
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