“Iya Alakara, fueling the nation with love,” Presidency releases AI image of Tinubu’s wife selling ‘hot and fresh’ akara
The presidency has released an AI-generated image of Nigeria’s first lady, Remi Tinubu, frying and selling akara.
The image, posted on the official social media handles of the presidency, came days after Tinubu’s recent remarks on micro-enterprises sparked widespread backlash.
In an interview, the first lady noted that small-scale ventures like frying akara, roasting corn, or making kuli kuli (peanut snacks) require minimal startup capital.
She emphasised that the federal government is providing grants, not loans, to support these businesses as part of efforts to restore hope.
“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 said.
Her comments went viral, drawing sharp criticism from many Nigerians who accused her of being out of touch with the severe economic hardships facing the country. Others, however, defended her, suggesting she was offering pragmatic solutions to unemployment.
In a move widely interpreted as a mockery of her detractors, the presidency shared the AI-generated artwork of the first lady at a frying post. The caption on the apron reads: “Iya Alakara, fueling the nation with love”.
The post has since intensified debate online. Supporters viewed it as a playful, lighthearted retort, while critics condemned it as an insensitive trivialization of the nation’s deep economic woes.
President Bola Tinubu on Thursday addressed his wife as “Iya Alakara” (Mama akara seller) in a light-hearted nod to the recent controversy over her remarks on small-scale businesses.
