Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has poked fun at his wife during a gala dinner, playfully addressing her by a nickname that trended after a row over her comments on the country’s cost-of-living crisis.
While greeting dignitaries at the Presidential Press Corps Dinner in Abuja, Mr. Tinubu turned to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and introduced her as “Iya Alakara“—a Yoruba phrase meaning “mother who sells bean cakes.”
The teasing remark drew loud laughter from the audience of journalists and officials, following days of heated social media debate over Mrs. Tinubu’s suggestion that struggling Nigerians should start small petty trades.
The bean cake controversy
The First Lady had faced intense criticism earlier in the week after urging Nigerian women to consider starting micro-businesses, such as selling akara (deep-fried bean cakes), roasted corn, or local snacks, through her welfare foundation.
She argued that such ventures required very little capital to set up. However, the comments backfired online, with critics branding the advice insensitive at a time when Nigerians are grappling with soaring inflation and economic hardship.
Mrs. Tinubu defended her remarks during a visit to Jigawa State, insisting her comments were misunderstood and that the government’s economic empowerment plans targeted a wide range of market traders.
“It’s not only akara,” the First Lady said. “We also have tomato sellers… and those selling pepper and vegetables. We will continue to empower them so that their trade can be sustainable.”
The presidency appears keen to laugh off the backlash, using the media dinner to signal that the first family is taking the public criticism in their stride.
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