UMO ENO REVEALS HOW AKARA BUSINESS EARNED HIM MILLIONS BEFORE POLITICS

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, has revealed that his business career began with the sale of akara and bread, an enterprise he said eventually generated not less than ₦10 million in monthly income before he ventured into politics.

Eno made the disclosure during the state’s monthly covenant prayer service on Tuesday, with his account subsequently attracting attention online. The governor used his personal experience to highlight how small businesses can grow when properly managed and expanded over time.

According to Eno, his entrepreneurial journey started from selling akara and bread. Rather than limiting the business to conventional street sales, he developed a packaged version of the meal which he branded as “Akara Burger.”

The governor said the business later expanded beyond akara and bread into a coffee shop, allowing him to diversify his operations and increase his earnings. He explained that the experience gave him practical exposure to entrepreneurship before his eventual transition into public service.

Eno said the business eventually became sufficiently profitable for him to make at least ₦10 million every month. His account offers an insight into the commercial activities he engaged in before becoming a major political figure and eventually assuming the position of governor of Akwa Ibom State.

The governor’s revelation also comes at a time when entrepreneurship and small businesses remain important sources of income and employment for many Nigerians. His experience suggests that businesses that begin on a relatively small scale can be developed into larger commercial ventures through innovation and expansion.

By introducing the “Akara Burger” concept and subsequently moving into the coffee business, Eno said he was able to transform a basic food-selling venture into a broader hospitality and food-service operation.

His story also formed part of a wider message about the importance of hard work, enterprise and financial independence. The governor’s transition from business into politics demonstrates the different stages of his career before he became a public office holder.

Eno, who has served as Akwa Ibom governor since 2023, has frequently spoken about his background and experience in business while discussing economic development and opportunities for residents of the state.

The governor’s account of his akara business has since generated reactions, particularly because of the scale of income he said the venture was able to produce before he entered politics.

His experience ultimately underscores the possibility of starting with a relatively simple business idea and expanding it into a more sophisticated enterprise through branding, diversification and effective management.