Mixed reactions have trailed the Presidency’s recent social media post which shows an artificial intelligence-generated image of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, frying and selling akara, days after her comments on small-scale businesses attracted widespread criticism.
The AI-generated image, posted on the official social media accounts of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre on Friday, portrays the First Lady at a roadside akara stand wearing an apron bearing the inscription, “Iya Alakara, fueling the nation with love.”
The post came in the wake of remarks by the First Lady during an interview in which she encouraged Nigerians to embrace small-scale businesses, saying ventures such as frying akara, roasting corn, and producing kuli kuli require relatively little startup capital.
According to her, the Federal Government is supporting such businesses through grants rather than loans to help improve the livelihoods of low-income Nigerians.
“We’re trying to give hope, and to start an akara business doesn’t take a lot of money. To start roasting corn, or somebody even said kuli kuli doesn’t take much. We didn’t give them a loan; we gave it to them as a grant,” she said.
Her comments generated mixed reactions, with some Nigerians describing them as insensitive to the country’s economic challenges, while others argued that she was merely highlighting affordable business opportunities for unemployed and low-income citizens.
The Presidency’s decision to publish the AI-generated image further divided public opinion.
Several social media users criticized the post, accusing the government of making light of the economic hardship facing millions of Nigerians.
An X user, @Top_GunM, described the development as unfortunate, arguing that it diminished the office of the First Lady. Another user, @mizmuchstella, faulted the Presidency’s media team, saying the post failed to improve the government’s public image.
Others also expressed concern that the image appeared to mock citizens struggling with rising inflation, insecurity, and declining purchasing power.
A user identified as @outtahighbee argued that the media team was damaging the President’s reputation rather than helping it, while @gentrytee22 described the image as evidence that the government underestimated the aspirations of Nigerians.
Another user, @AminJaman, noted that even producing akara had become more expensive because of the rising costs of beans, cooking oil, transportation, and cooking gas.
However, some Nigerians defended the Presidency.
User @SirTimeyin argued that many Nigerians had already turned the First Lady’s remarks into memes and comedy skits, saying the Presidency’s post simply joined the ongoing public conversation.
Similarly, @sto0511M welcomed the image and surged the Presidency to release more humorous content in response to critics.
The latest controversy comes a day after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu jokingly referred to the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, as “Iya Alakara” while acknowledging dignitaries during the Presidential Press Corps Dinner at the State House in Abuja.
The remark, captured in a video shared by Aso Rock TV, has continued to fuel discussions over the government’s messaging amid the country’s economic challenges.