A married street food vendor from Delta State, based in Shomolu, Lagos, has gone viral after breaking down the daily income and starting capital of her Akara and corn business. Speaking during a street interview, the seller, Favour Chinedu, explained her daily expenses and profits, sparking a national conversation about informal sector entrepreneurship.
Daily Costs and Profit Breakdown
According to Favour Chinedu, she spends N12,000 each day on ingredients, including beans, palm oil, pepper, bawa, and gas at N1,800 per litre. She claimed to have sold all her akara for N17,000, leaving her with a daily profit of N5,000. She added that a startup capital of N30,000 would be sufficient for someone to run the business independently.
Context of First Lady's Remarks
The interview resonated nationally because of its timing. First Lady Oluremi Tinubu had recently drawn widespread criticism after suggesting that struggling Nigerians could start low-capital trades such as selling Akara, roasted corn, and kuli-kuli. While defending the Renewed Hope Initiative's direct grant programme, her remarks were met with significant public backlash, with many Nigerians feeling the advice fell short of the scale of support needed.
Vendor Defends Akara Business Dignity
The akara-corn vendor addressed that conversation directly. She pushed back against the stigma attached to informal food vending. In her words: "I will tell her that what she is doing, she is doing well. But it is the way people see it. But to me, she should not back out on it." She emphasized that the business is honorable and profitable, urging the government to go further by actively funding small traders.
Public Reactions
The video quickly drew thousands of reactions online, with viewers weighing in on the mathematics of the business and the real costs of starting out. @Oluchi pat commented: "If everyone sells Akara, who go buy?" @Mohammed Yusuf olatunji said: "Madam a very big thank you for your enlightenment." @Dr.Balogun (PhD) calculated: "5000*30=150,000." @Rosa Ramos provided a detailed cost breakdown: "To fry akara, you need N40,000 to build a bench, N50,000 to buy a gas cylinder and gas, N15,000 to buy vegetable oil, N10,000 to buy beans and pepper, N15,000 to buy a large umbrella for shade, and N10,000 to rent a space along the roadside."
Broader Impact
The interview has reignited debate about the viability of small-scale street food businesses in Nigeria. Many see it as a validation of the First Lady's advice, while others argue that more substantial government support is needed. The vendor's transparent breakdown has provided a realistic picture of the economics behind one of Nigeria's most beloved street foods.
