The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre has posted an AI-generated image of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, frying and selling akara.
This is coming days after the first lady’s comments on micro-enterprises sparked widespread criticism on social media.
The image, posted on the Presidency’s official social media accounts on Friday, depicts the First Lady at a roadside akara stand wearing an apron bearing the inscription, “Iya Alakara, fueling the nation with love.”
The post followed remarks by the First Lady during an interview in which she said small-scale businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn and making kuli kuli require little start-up capital.
She explained that the Federal Government was supporting such ventures with grants rather than loans as part of efforts to improve livelihoods.
“We’re trying to give hope, and to start akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kuli kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant,” she had said.
Her comments triggered mixed reactions, with many Nigerians accusing her of being insensitive to the country’s economic realities, while others defended her, saying she was highlighting accessible business opportunities.
Tinubu had on Thursday playfully referred to the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, as “Iya Alakara” (Mama Akara Seller), in an apparent light-hearted reference to the recent controversy surrounding her remarks on small-scale businesses.
The President made the remark while observing protocol during his address at the Presidential Press Corps Dinner held at the State House, Abuja.
A video of the event, shared by Aso Rock TV on YouTube, showed Tinubu smiling as he acknowledged dignitaries in attendance before turning to the First Lady.
