President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday drew laughter from guests at the Presidential Press Corps Dinner in Abuja after playfully referring to the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, as “Iya Alakara” (Mama Akara Seller).
While acknowledging dignitaries during his speech, the President smiled and said, “Good evening, gentlemen of the press, ladies and gentlemen, my dear wife, the First Lady, Iya Alakara”, prompting laughter from the audience.
The light-hearted remark comes weeks after the First Lady advised Nigerian women to embrace small-scale businesses such as selling akara (beans cakes), roasted corn and kuli-kuli under the Renewed Hope Initiative’s economic empowerment programme.
Her remarks sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some Nigerians criticizing the statement, arguing that it appeared insensitive to the country’s prevailing economic hardship and diminished the struggles of citizens facing rising living costs.
In response to the criticism, Senator Oluremi Tinubu later clarified that the Federal Government’s employment programme was not limited to akara sellers but also supports traders dealing in tomatoes, pepper, vegetables, roasted plantain and other small businesses. She added that the initiative is aimed at strengthening the livelihoods of petty traders across the country.
-9News Nigeria.
