Bola Tinubu on Thursday jokingly referred to the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, as “Iya Alakara” during a public event, in what appeared to be a light-hearted reference to the recent public debate surrounding her comments on petty trading.
The President made the remark while acknowledging dignitaries at the Presidential Press Corps Dinner held at the State House in Abuja.
A video shared by Aso Rock TV showed Tinubu smiling as he welcomed guests before introducing his wife with the nickname.
According to the President, “Good evening, gentlemen of the press, ladies and gentlemen, my dear wife, the First Lady, Iya Alakara.
The humorous remark drew laughter from members of the audience.
The comment comes weeks after the First Lady encouraged Nigerian women to consider small-scale businesses such as selling akara (bean cakes), roasted corn, and kuli-kuli as part of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s economic empowerment programme.
At the time, she stated that such businesses “don’t take much money” to start, a comment that sparked widespread reactions on social media.
Many Nigerians criticised the remarks, arguing they appeared insensitive to the country’s economic realities and the financial struggles faced by millions of citizens amid rising living costs.
Earlier this week, Oluremi Tinubu responded to the criticism, explaining that the government’s empowerment programme is not limited to akara sellers but is designed to support a wide range of petty traders.
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 small-scale traders in the state.
According to the First Lady, “Because of the atmosphere, what is going on, I’ve told Her Excellency that we’ve already given, donated about 100 million to her to use to empower 2,000 petty traders.”
Addressing the controversy directly, she added, “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 explained that the initiative is intended to strengthen small businesses by providing financial assistance to traders across different sectors.
According to her, “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.”
The President’s playful reference to his wife comes as public discussions continue over the government’s economic empowerment initiatives and the role of small businesses in supporting livelihoods across Nigeria.
