AI-generated depiction of the First Lady selling akara reignites debate over her remarks on small-scale businesses as Nigerians remain divided.
The Presidency has stirred fresh conversations on social media after sharing an AI-generated image of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, frying and selling akara, days after her comments on micro-enterprises sparked widespread public debate.
The image, posted on the official social media accounts of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre on Friday, shows the First Lady at a roadside akara stand wearing an apron with the inscription, “Iya Alakara, fueling the nation with love.”
The post followed Oluremi Tinubu’s recent remarks that small businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn and producing kuli kuli require little start-up capital. She explained that the Federal Government was supporting such ventures with grants rather than loans to encourage entrepreneurship and improve livelihoods.
Her comments generated mixed reactions, with some Nigerians describing them as insensitive to the country’s current economic realities, while others defended the First Lady, saying she was simply highlighting affordable business opportunities for ordinary citizens.
The AI-generated image has further divided public opinion. While supporters described it as a humorous and light-hearted response to critics, others argued that it trivialised the economic hardship many Nigerians are facing.
Several social media users criticised the post, with some questioning the judgment of the Presidency’s media team, while others accused the government of making light of citizens’ struggles.
The development comes a day after President Bola Tinubu jokingly referred to his wife as “Iya Alakara” during the Presidential Press Corps Dinner at the State House in Abuja, a remark widely seen as a playful reference to the controversy surrounding her earlier comments.