Umahi defends Tinubu's akara advice: 'My mother sold akara, father farmed'
Minister of Works David Umahi defended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu's advice for Nigerians to embrace vocational skills like selling akara (beans pudding) and roasting corn, sharing that his mother sold akara and his father was a farmer. Speaking at a public event on July 3, 2026, Umahi urged Nigerians to stop mocking genuine advice and embrace hard work for national development, citing China's work ethic as an example.
He clarified that while his parents' trades educated him, he didn't continue at their scale—emphasizing Nigerians should find meaningful work suited to their circumstances, not necessarily replicate past generations exactly. This defense comes amid criticism of the First Lady's remark, which some viewed as dismissive of formal education aspirations amid high unemployment.
The exchange highlights ongoing debates about vocational training versus formal education in Nigeria's economic strategy. With official unemployment remaining high, the message promotes self-reliance through accessible skills like agro-processing or street vending requiring minimal startup capital. Umahi's personal example aims to destigmatize such work as honorable and foundational to national progress.
Given Nigeria's economic challenges, would you consider vocational skills or small-scale trading as a viable path for yourself or your children, or should national focus remain on expanding formal education and white-collar job opportunities?