How Akara and Kuli-Kuli Trades Built Homes and Educated Graduates Across Nigeria

The conversation began when the First Lady urged Nigerians to embrace small foods like akara and kuli-kuli. Traders across the country now say these ventures are more than side hustles—they are lifelines. From Benue to Lagos, kuli-kuli and akara sellers share how daily profits paid school fees, built houses, and even created jobs. In Kano, a processing centre now employs 15 workers, while akara stands in Ikorodu funded university degrees and homes. High production costs, inflation, insecurity and occasional harassment by officials pose challenges. Yet many traders—both men and women—continue to depend on these trades for survival. Sellers call on the government for interest-free loans and better infrastructure to sustain these time-tested businesses and support countless families.

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