The office of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently published an AI-created portrait showing First Lady Oluremi Tinubu working as a street vendor selling akara. The image appeared on the official X account of the President’s media team on Friday. It portrays the First Lady in an apron standing beside a sign that identifies her as Iya Alakara.
This digital illustration followed remarks made by President Tinubu at the Presidential Press Corps Dinner in Abuja, where he lightheartedly labeled his wife the mother of an akara seller. Previously, during the launch of the Renewed Hope Initiative’s Flow with Confidence campaign, the First Lady had publicly encouraged citizens to explore small-scale entrepreneurship, specifically highlighting the production of items like akara, kuli-kuli, and roasted corn.
The release of the image has triggered significant backlash on social media. Many users criticized the presidential media team, calling the decision to post such content unprofessional and insensitive given the country’s current economic climate. While some users defended the dignity of small business labor, others expressed frustration, arguing that the government should prioritize urgent national issues over sharing controversial memes.
