President Bola Tinubu on Thursday humorously referred to First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu as “Iya Alakara” (Mama Akara Seller) during the Presidential Press Corps Dinner at the State House in Abuja.
The President made the remark while observing protocol at the event, drawing laughter from guests in attendance.
“Good evening, gentlemen of the press, ladies and gentlemen, my dear wife, the First Lady, Iya Alakara,” Tinubu said with a smile.
The nickname appeared to reference the recent public debate sparked by the First Lady’s comments encouraging Nigerian women to explore small scale businesses such as selling the popular bean cake known as Akara, roasted corn and kuli kuli under the Renewed Hope Initiative’s empowerment programme. She had said such ventures require little capital to start.
Her remarks generated mixed reactions, with some Nigerians describing them as insensitive in light of the country’s economic challenges, while others defended the initiative as an effort to promote entrepreneurship.
Responding to the criticism earlier this week during the inauguration of the 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 explained that beneficiaries also include traders dealing in tomatoes, pepper, vegetables, roasted plantain and other petty businesses.
Oluremi Tinubu also disclosed that the Federal Government had donated N100 million to the Jigawa State Government to support 2,000 petty traders as part of its economic empowerment programme.
