Presidency Shares AI-Generated Image of First Lady as ‘Iya Alakara’ Amid Online Debate
The Presidential Media Centre has shared an AI-generated image of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, depicting her frying and selling akara, days after her comments on small-scale businesses sparked widespread reactions on social media.
The image, posted on the Presidency’s official social media platforms 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 follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s light-hearted reference to his wife as “Iya Alakara” during the Presidential Press Corps Dinner held at the State House in Abuja on Thursday.
The remarks came after the First Lady, during a recent interview, said small businesses such as frying akara, roasting corn and producing kuli-kuli require relatively low start-up capital. She explained that the Federal Government was providing grants, rather than loans, to support such micro-enterprises as part of efforts to improve livelihoods.
Her comments generated mixed reactions across social media, with some Nigerians criticising the remarks as being out of touch with the country’s current economic realities, while others defended her, saying she was encouraging accessible income-generating opportunities.
The AI-generated image has since intensified online discussions, with supporters describing it as a humorous response to critics, while others argued that it downplays the economic challenges facing many Nigerians.
Presidency Shares AI-Generated Image of First Lady as ‘Iya Alakara’ Amid Online Debate