President Bola Tinubu on Thursday humorously referred to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as “Iya Alakara” during a public event, weeks after her comments about petty trading sparked widespread debate on social media.
The light-hearted remark came while the President was acknowledging dignitaries at the Presidential Press Corps Dinner held at the State House, Abuja.
In a video shared by Aso Rock TV, Tinubu smiled as he greeted guests before introducing his wife with the nickname.
“Good evening, gentlemen of the press, ladies and gentlemen, my dear wife, the First Lady, Iya Alakara,” the President said, drawing laughter from members of the audience.
The comment appeared to reference the controversy that followed the First Lady’s remarks during the Renewed Hope Initiative’s economic empowerment programme, where she encouraged Nigerian women to consider small-scale businesses such as selling akara (bean cakes), roasted corn and kuli-kuli as viable means of earning a living.
At the time, Oluremi Tinubu said such businesses required little capital to start, a statement that generated mixed reactions across social media.
While some Nigerians welcomed the emphasis on entrepreneurship, many others criticised the remarks, arguing that they appeared disconnected from the country’s economic realities and the financial struggles facing many households.
Responding to the criticism earlier this week during the inauguration of the newly constructed Abubakar Maje Haruna Hall at the Emir of Hadejia’s Palace in Jigawa State, the First Lady clarified that the government’s empowerment programme extends beyond akara sellers.
She disclosed that the Federal Government had donated ₦100 million to empower 2,000 petty traders in the state through the initiative.
Addressing the controversy directly, she said the programme targets a wide range of small-scale traders.
“And I know they’ve been talking that I said akara. It’s not only akara, we also have tomato sellers. We have boole, and those also selling pepper, selling vegetables for us in the market,” she said.
Oluremi Tinubu explained that the initiative is designed to strengthen small businesses by providing financial support that would enable traders to sustain and expand their businesses.
“We will continue to empower them and add to their resources so that their trade can really be sustainable. So that is what we are doing,” she added.
President Tinubu’s playful reference to his wife as “Iya Alakara” comes amid ongoing public conversations about the First Lady’s remarks, adding a humorous twist to a debate that has continued to attract attention across the country.