Tinubu Lightens Mood, Calls First Lady ‘Iya Alakara’ After Viral Akara Debate

Tinubu Lightens Mood, Calls First Lady ‘Iya Alakara’ After Viral Akara Debate

ABUJA – President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday humorously referred to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as “Iya Alakara” during a dinner with members of the Presidential Press Corps at the State House, Abuja, drawing laughter from guests in what appeared to be a light-hearted response to the recent public debate over her comments on petty trading.

A video shared by Aso Rock TV showed the President smiling as he acknowledged dignitaries before introducing his wife with the playful nickname.

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

The President’s remark comes weeks after the First Lady’s comments during the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) economic empowerment programme sparked widespread reactions across Nigeria.

While speaking at one of the initiative’s empowerment events, Senator Oluremi Tinubu encouraged women to consider starting small-scale businesses such as selling akara (bean cakes), roasted corn (boole), kuli-kuli, tomatoes, peppers and vegetables, noting that many of the businesses require relatively modest start-up capital.

Her comments were intended to encourage entrepreneurship among low-income earners and women seeking financial independence. However, excerpts of the speech circulated widely on social media, with some Nigerians criticising the remarks as being disconnected from the country’s current economic realities.

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Critics argued that encouraging citizens to venture into petty trading did not adequately address the challenges posed by rising inflation, unemployment, high food prices and declining purchasing power.

The remarks quickly became one of the most discussed political topics on social media, with many users creating memes and satirical content around the phrase “akara business.”

In response to the criticism, the First Lady recently clarified that her comments had been taken out of context and that the Renewed Hope Initiative supports a wide range of small businesses rather than focusing solely on akara sellers.

Speaking during the inauguration of the newly constructed Abubakar Maje Haruna Hall at the Emir of Hadejia’s Palace in Jigawa State, Oluremi Tinubu explained that the Federal Government had provided ₦100 million through the state’s First Lady to empower 2,000 petty traders across different sectors.

“Because of the atmosphere, what is going on, I’ve told Her Excellency that we’ve already donated about ₦100 million to empower 2,000 petty traders,” she said.

Addressing the controversy directly, she added:

“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 selling pepper and vegetables in the market.”

According to the First Lady, the programme is designed to strengthen micro and small enterprises by providing financial support to market traders and other informal business owners.

“We will continue to empower them and add to their resources so that their trade can really be sustainable. That is what we are doing,” she said.

The Renewed Hope Initiative, launched by the First Lady shortly after the inauguration of the Tinubu administration, focuses on women and youth empowerment, healthcare, education, agriculture and economic inclusion. The programme has implemented similar empowerment schemes in several states, distributing grants, business equipment and financial support to thousands of beneficiaries.

Government officials say the initiative complements broader federal efforts to expand financial inclusion and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are widely regarded as key drivers of employment and economic growth in Nigeria.

Political observers interpreted President Tinubu’s humorous reference to his wife as an attempt to ease tensions surrounding the controversy while acknowledging the extensive public attention the remarks had attracted.

The light-hearted moment has since generated fresh reactions online, with many Nigerians sharing clips of the event and debating both the President’s joke and the broader conversation about grassroots economic empowerment in the country.

Tinubu Lightens Mood, Calls First Lady ‘Iya Alakara’ After Viral Akara Debate