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‘Mama Akara seller’ -President Tinubu gests First Lady, Oluremi

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President Bola Tinubu on Thursday made a gest to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, introducing her as “Iya Alakara (Mama Akara)” in what appeared to be an approval to her earlier remarks encouraging Nigerian youths to embrace small-scale entrepreneurship.

The President made the comment when he addressed journalists and other guests at a public event.

“Good evening, gentlemen of the press, ladies and gentlemen, my dear wife, the First Lady, Iya Alakara (Mama Akara),” Tinubu said, drawing laughter from the audience.

The remark comes weeks after the First Lady had urged young Nigerians to consider businesses such as frying akara, producing kuli-kuli and roasting corn, saying such ventures could provide sustainable incomes with support from government empowerment programmes.

Her comments generated widespread public reactions, with supporters describing them as a practical call for self-employment at a time of rising youth unemployment.

Critics, however, argued that while entrepreneurship should be encouraged, greater emphasis should be placed on creating more skilled and formal employment opportunities for young Nigerians.

Against the backdrop of the public debate, Tinubu’s reference to the First Lady as “Mama Akara” is widely seen as a humorous acknowledgement of the nickname that emerged from her earlier comments.

Thought the President did not elaborate on the remark, it quickly became one of the standout moments of the event, consolidating conversations about youth entrepreneurship, government empowerment initiatives and the role of small businesses in addressing unemployment.