The Presidency has shared an AI-generated image of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu frying and selling akara, days after her remarks on small-scale businesses sparked widespread debate on social media.
According to The Punch, the image was posted on the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre’s official social media accounts on Friday, showing the First Lady at a roadside akara stand wearing an apron with the inscription, “Iya Alakara, fueling the nation with love.”
The post followed the First Lady’s recent comments encouraging Nigerians to consider businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli, saying they require little capital and are supported through government grants.
The AI-generated image drew mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians describing it as insensitive amid the country’s economic challenges, while others defended it as a humorous response to critics.
Reacting on X, user @Top_GunM wrote, “Warra country. It’s so unfortunate. This is meant to be the wife of the president of the most populous black nation in the world and this is what she’s being reduced to.”
Another user, #mizmuchstella, criticised the Presidency’s media team, saying, “Whoever is the handler of this account should be sacked. Your job is to position this government as good, but it is obvious you have no basic knowledge of your job.”
Defending the post, #SirTimeyin argued that Nigerians had initially turned the First Lady’s remarks into jokes.
“When the First Lady’s ‘Akara’ comment became content, Nigerians turned it into skits, memes, and endless cruise… Now the President has added his own quota to the same joke, and everyone is wailing,” the user wrote.
Another supporter, #sto0511M, welcomed the image, urging the Presidency to continue releasing similar content.
The latest development comes a day after President Bola Tinubu jokingly referred to the First Lady as “Iya Alakara” during the Presidential Press Corps Dinner at the State House in Abuja, in an apparent reference to the controversy surrounding her earlier remarks.
