President Bola Tinubu Media Centre on Friday posted an AI-generated image depicting First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu frying and selling akara.

The post, which appeared on the presidency’s official social media pages, comes amid ongoing public debate over the First Lady’s recent comments encouraging small-scale businesses.

In the image, the president’s wife is adorned with an apron bearing the inscription, “Iya Alakara, fueling the nation with love” at an apparent road-side stand. ‘Iya Alakara’ is a Yoruba expression for Mama Akara Seller.

The image appears intended as a light-hearted or defiant response to criticism of Mrs Tinubu’s remarks during an event tied to the Renewed Hope Initiative.

In a widely circulated clip from the event, she told women that starting an akara business, along with ventures like selling roasted corn or kulikuli, “doesn’t take much money,” while highlighting government grants provided to petty traders.

Her remark drew sharp backlash on social media, with critics arguing they were out of touch with Nigeria’s economic realities, including high food inflation and rising costs of ingredients like beans and cooking oil.

Supporters, however, defended the advice as practical empowerment for micro-enterprises and noted that such businesses have historically supported families.

President Bola Tinubu recently referenced the controversy in a playful manner.

Speaking at the Presidential Press Corps Dinner, he jokingly addressed his wife as “My dear wife, the First Lady, Iya Alakara” (Mother Akara Seller), eliciting laughter from the audience.

The presidency has maintained that the First Lady’s initiative involves direct grants, including ₦50,000 to thousands of women, to help sustain or expand micro-enterprises, and has dismissed much of the criticism as politically motivated misrepresentation. (The Sun)

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