First Lady’s grant helped me move from roadside to kiosk — Akara vendor
By Taiwo Scholarstica
A Nigerian akara vendor, Ayobami Ogunmoroti, popularly known as Ayo Alakara, has confirmed receiving financial support from First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, stating that the assistance enabled him to expand his business from a roadside operation to a fully established food kiosk.
Ogunmoroti made the revelation in a video shared on his TikTok page on Tuesday, following recent public discussions over comments by the First Lady encouraging Nigerians to embrace small-scale businesses.
The video surfaced a few days after President Bola Tinubu jokingly referred to his wife as “Iya Alakara” during the Presidential Press Corps Dinner at the State House in Abuja, amid reactions to her remarks on petty trading.
Expressing gratitude for the support, Ogunmoroti said the financial assistance came when he needed it most and transformed his business.
“I saw a trending video of our First Lady, Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu, where she said she empowered one university graduate who sells akara in Abuja.”
“Yes, I received the money. The money came at the right time for me. In fact, I was frying Akara under this tree before. But when I received the money, I was able to build this very befitting food kiosk for myself where I now sell akara today,” he said.
He added, “Thank you very much, ma. I cannot appreciate you enough. The money came at the right time for me.”
“May God Almighty continue to support you, support your husband, and support your administration.”
The First Lady had earlier disclosed that her office quietly assisted the graduate after learning about his business, noting that the support enabled him to employ 12 workers.
“There was once I read an article about a young graduate who said he didn’t get a job. He said he sells akara because he couldn’t get a job, and he’s in Abuja.”
“We approached him, but I didn’t put my name to it. We equipped him more. He now has 12 workers working under him, and he’s doing very, very well,” she had said.
Beyond appreciating the intervention, Ogunmoroti encouraged fellow akara vendors to avoid using nylon to package hot akara, warning that it could pose health risks to consumers.
“I want to use this opportunity to admonish my co-akara sellers in Nigeria to stop the act of using nylon to sell hot akara. It can endanger the health of our esteemed customers.”
“Akara is one of the most delicious African traditional delicacies. Akara is not poor. Akara is rich in nutrition. Akara can be packaged. Akara can be branded,” he said.
A graduate of Political Science Education from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Ogunmoroti started selling akara during his National Youth Service Corps after the COVID-19 pandemic affected his source of income.
He later moved to Abuja, where he rebranded his business as Akara Ayo, introducing branded packaging and delivery services while promoting professionalism in roadside food vending.