Akara, Kulikuli And The Worth Of Your Degree

By Kunle Awosiyan

The controversy surrounding First Lady Oluremi Tinubu’s remarks about akara and kulikuli was perhaps inevitable. We are in a political climate where virtually every statement from President Bola Tinubu, his family, or members of his administration is subjected to intense scrutiny, often through partisan lenses.

I have watched the video several times. The First Lady spoke about the billions of naira that have been disbursed over the past few years as grants to petty traders across the country. By simple calculation, many beneficiaries received about ₦50,000 each to support and expand their existing businesses.

Among these beneficiaries are traders who sell akara, kulikuli, and other everyday products. They chose those businesses themselves and sought government support to grow them. At no point did the First Lady advise university graduates to abandon their education and begin frying akara or making kulikuli. Neither did she suggest that such enterprises should replace professional careers. Yet that was the interpretation promoted by many critics.

This raises an important question: what is wrong with making a living from selling akara or kulikuli? Are those engaged in these trades less dignified than others? The ridicule directed at such occupations says more about society’s misplaced values than about the occupations themselves.

Perhaps more concerning is how some educated commentators, who ought to enlighten public discourse, joined in amplifying what appears to have been a distorted interpretation of the First Lady’s remarks.

What is the true worth of a university degree if emotion clouds one’s ability to analyse issues objectively? A graduate whose education was financed by a parent selling akara or kulikuli and who can think critically is, in many respects, demonstrating the very purpose of education. Wealth or social status does not automatically confer wisdom, just as possessing a degree does not necessarily guarantee sound judgment.

The Nigerian reality also reminds us that academic qualifications alone do not determine financial success. A sociology graduate working in the banking sector may earn significantly more than another sociology graduate employed as a public school teacher. Should we blame the government, the labour market, the education system, or the individual? The answer is likely a combination of all these factors.

This does not excuse government from its responsibility. Every administration has a duty to create an enabling environment where businesses can thrive and graduates can find meaningful employment. On that score, citizens are justified in demanding better policies and opportunities.

However, government alone cannot substitute for innovation and enterprise. Around us today, graduates are repackaging traditional products such as Akara Oloyin and premium kulikuli into branded products sold in supermarkets and online. What was once regarded as an ordinary local snack has become a value-added product commanding higher prices because someone applied creativity and business knowledge.

Many graduates now combine salaried employment with vocational skills or entrepreneurship to supplement their income. That reality reflects both the challenges of the economy and the resilience of Nigerians.Perhaps it is time we begin to distinguish certification from education. A university degree is a certificate. Education is the ability to think critically, solve problems, innovate, and create value. Someone who has mastered the art of making quality kulikuli possesses knowledge in that field.

A university graduate can apply formal education to improve production, branding, marketing, and distribution. One complements the other.

In many ways, today’s young Nigerians are more adaptable than previous generations. They have embraced technology, digital platforms, and entrepreneurship at remarkable speed. Their creativity and willingness to explore multiple income streams are qualities worthy of admiration.

Rather than reducing the conversation to politics or mockery, perhaps the real lesson is this: there is dignity in honest labour, and there is immense value in applying education to transform even the simplest enterprise into a successful business.

Ultimately, the worth of a degree is not measured by the certificate hanging on a wall, but by the value its holder creates for society.