President Bola Tinubu drew laughter during the Presidential Press Corps Dinner on Thursday after making a light-hearted remark about his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, amid ongoing public discussions over her recent comments on starting an akara business.
While addressing guests at the event, the President greeted attendees before jokingly referring to the First Lady as “Iya Alakara,” a Yoruba phrase meaning “mother of the akara seller.”
The humorous remark was met with laughter from the audience and quickly attracted attention online.
The comment comes days after Senator Oluremi Tinubu advised Nigerians that starting small businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn, or kuli-kuli requires little capital. She explained that her office had provided grants, rather than loans, to support many beneficiaries and disclosed that more than ₦3 billion had been invested in programmes aimed at empowering vulnerable Nigerians.
Following the President’s joke, social media users shared mixed reactions.
Some praised Tinubu’s sense of humour, while others criticised the administration, arguing that the government should focus more on addressing the country’s economic challenges.
Others claimed the First Lady’s earlier comments had shifted public attention away from more pressing national issues, while some supporters dismissed the criticism and defended the administration.
The exchange has continued to generate conversations online, with Nigerians expressing differing opinions on both the President’s remarks and the First Lady’s earlier statements.
