Tinubu Lightens Mood, Calls First Lady ‘Iya Alakara’

Tinubu Lightens Mood, Calls First Lady ‘Iya Alakara’
A video shared by Aso Rock TV showed the President smiling as he acknowledged dignitaries before introducing his wife with the nickname
The first lady disclosed that the Federal Government had provided ₦100 million to empower 2,000 petty traders in the state.

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

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Eko Hot Blog reports that the light-hearted remark appeared to reference the recent public debate sparked by the First Lady’s comments encouraging women to embrace small-scale businesses such as selling akara.

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

“Good evening, gentlemen of the press, ladies and gentlemen, my dear wife, the First Lady, Iya Alakara,” Tinubu said, drawing laughter from guests at the event.

The remark comes weeks after Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during an economic empowerment programme under the Renewed Hope Initiative, encouraged Nigerian women to engage in small businesses, including selling akara (bean cakes), roasted corn and kuli-kuli, noting that such ventures require little capital to start.

Her comments generated widespread reactions on social media, with some Nigerians arguing that they did not reflect the economic realities facing many citizens amid rising living costs.

Responding to the criticism earlier this week, the First Lady clarified that the Federal Government’s empowerment programme is not limited to akara sellers but is designed to support a wide range of small-scale traders.

Tinubu Lightens Mood, Calls First Lady ‘Iya Alakara’ — President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu

Speaking during the inauguration of the newly constructed Abubakar Maje Haruna Hall at the Emir of Hadejia’s Palace in Jigawa State, she disclosed that the Federal Government had provided ₦100 million to empower 2,000 petty traders in the state.

Addressing the controversy, she said the initiative covers tomato sellers, pepper traders, vegetable vendors, boole (roasted plantain) sellers and other small business owners.

“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.

The First Lady added that the programme is aimed at strengthening small businesses by providing financial support that would enable traders to sustain and grow their enterprises.

“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 said.