Special Assistant on Media to the Delta State Governor Ossai Ovie Success, has sparked debate on social media after stating that engaging in akara and kulikuli businesses is a more honorable and rewarding option than participating in internet fraud, popularly known as Yahoo, or prostitution.
Ovie made the statement in a post shared on his X account after purchasing roadside akara. Accompanying a photo of himself with the snack, he urged Nigerians to embrace small-scale businesses and self-reliance instead of illegal or immoral activities.
According to him, akara and kulikuli businesses remain profitable because they attract customers from every social class, including market traders, civil servants, business executives and other professionals. He argued that many people who are committed to the trade earn substantial incomes every month.
To support his position, Ovie recalled that the mother of one of his secondary school classmates had built more than three houses through akara sales by 2002. He also noted that some Nigerian women have successfully expanded their kulikuli businesses by exporting the product to countries such as Canada. He stressed that countless families have financed their children’s education, acquired properties and sustained their livelihoods through such ventures.
His comments come amid discussions surrounding recent remarks by First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who encouraged Nigerians to consider small businesses like akara frying and roasted corn vending as viable sources of income. Ovie defended the First Lady, saying her message had been misinterpreted and should instead be viewed as an encouragement for hard work, resilience and self-reliance.
The post has since attracted mixed reactions online. While many users praised his emphasis on entrepreneurship and the dignity of labour, others argued that promoting small businesses should not replace conversations about job creation, economic growth and broader employment opportunities in the country.
