“Start frying akara instead of begging for N2,000”, Actress Eucharia Anunobi joins ‘Iya Alakara’ debate

Nollywood actress and evangelist Eucharia Anunobi has joined the public discourse surrounding First Lady Oluremi Tinubu's comments on small-scale businesses. Anunobi encouraged Nigerians to pursue entrepreneurial ventures rather than relying on handouts, suggesting that frying akara, roasting corn, or making kulikuli are viable starting points.

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Every time you ask for an urgent 2k. Have you not heard that you can start a small-scale business like akara frying, corn roasting, kulikuli making, and before you can say First Lady Alakara, sorry, Chairman, Chairlady Alakara, you would have become a millionaire.

In a social media video, Anunobi stated, "Every time you ask for an urgent 2k. Have you not heard that you can start a small-scale business like akara frying, corn roasting, kulikuli making, and before you can say First Lady Alakara... you would have become a millionaire." She invoked scripture, saying, "God said I will bless the work of your hand." She warned against idleness, stating, "If you snooze, you lose and never become a billionaire if you don’t start with these small-scale businesses."

Anunobi's remarks echo the First Lady's earlier statements, which drew criticism. Mrs. Tinubu had suggested Nigerians enter businesses like akara, kulikuli, and corn trading. While she later clarified her empowerment initiatives extend to other traders, the initial comment sparked backlash. President Bola Tinubu, however, acknowledged his wife's call for considering small-scale businesses at a recent event.

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Did you not hear, did you not read that it is written that God said I will bless the work of your hand. Hear me, if you lose, you will snooze. If you snooze, you will lose. I think that snooze, snooze, all right, whatever you want, don’t snooze.

The actress's advice has ignited debate online. Netizens questioned the practicality of her suggestions, with one user asking, "How many akara and roasted corn person go sell before e get enough money pay house rent or even build house." Another comment suggested the issue is a lack of capital rather than a reluctance to work. Anunobi's intervention adds another voice to the ongoing conversation about economic empowerment and self-reliance in Nigeria.

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You refuse to start small. You have nothing that you are doing. What is in your hands for God to bless? If you snooze, you lose and never become a billionaire if you don’t start with these small-scale businesses: akara frying, corn roasting and kuli kuli making.