President Tinubu playfully calls First Lady ‘Iya Alakara’ at State house dinner

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday playfully referred to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as “Iya Alakara” (Mama Akara Seller) during the Presidential Press Corps Dinner at the State House in Abuja.

The light-hearted remark came while the President was acknowledging dignitaries during his address, drawing laughter and applause from guests at the event.

A video of the occasion, shared by Aso Rock TV, showed Tinubu smiling before turning to his wife during the protocol session.

“Good evening, gentlemen of the press, ladies and gentlemen, my dear wife, the First Lady, Iya Alakara,” the President said, prompting reactions from the audience.

The President’s comment comes weeks after the First Lady encouraged Nigerian women to embrace small-scale businesses such as selling akara (bean cakes), roasted corn and kuli-kuli under the Renewed Hope Initiative empowerment programme.

Mrs Tinubu had stated that such businesses require minimal capital to establish.

Her remarks generated widespread reactions on social media, with some Nigerians arguing that the comments did not reflect the current economic realities facing many citizens.

First Lady clarifies remarks

Responding to the criticism during the inauguration of the newly constructed Abubakar Maje Haruna Hall at the Emir of Hadejia’s Palace in Jigawa State, Mrs Tinubu explained that the Federal Government’s empowerment programme extends beyond akara sellers.

She disclosed that the Federal Government had donated N100 million to the Jigawa State Government to support 2,000 petty traders.

“Because of the atmosphere, what is going on, I’ve told Her Excellency that we’ve already given, donated about 100 million to her to use to empower 2,000 petty 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.

“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,” Mrs Tinubu said.