Tinubu Leaves Guests Laughing As He Dubs First Lady ‘Iya Alakara’ At State House Dinner

President Bola Tinubu had guests at the Presidential Press Corps Dinner laughing after giving his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, a playful new nickname, seemingly a cheeky reference to her recently debated business advice.

Speaking at the event held at the State House in Abuja on Thursday, the President warmly greeted dignitaries before turning his attention to the First Lady.

“Good evening, gentlemen of the press, ladies and gentlemen, my dear wife, the First Lady, Iya Alakara,” Tinubu said, drawing laughter from the audience. The moment was captured in a video later shared by Aso Rock TV.

The joke comes on the heels of the conversation sparked by Oluremi Tinubu’s remarks during a Renewed Hope Initiative empowerment programme, where she encouraged women to consider starting small businesses such as selling akara, roasted maize and kuli-kuli, noting that the ventures require relatively little capital.

Her comments quickly divided opinion online. While some Nigerians welcomed the message as practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, others argued that it failed to reflect the depth of the country’s economic challenges and the financial strain many families currently face.

Responding to the criticism days later, the First Lady insisted her comments had been taken out of context. She explained that the government’s empowerment initiatives cover a wide range of skills acquisition and business support programmes, adding that the focus extends far beyond small-scale food vending.

The President’s light-hearted jab has since attracted fresh reactions on social media, with many Nigerians amused by his decision to reference one of the week’s biggest talking points in such a humorous way.