Tinubu Media Centre Shares AI Image of Remi Tinubu Selling Akara

• The Presidency’s AI-generated image of First Lady Oluremi Tinubu selling akara has reignited online debate.

The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Media Centre has stirred fresh reactions after sharing an AI-generated image of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, frying and selling akara, days after her comments about small-scale businesses became one of the country’s biggest talking points.

The image, posted on the Presidency’s official social media accounts on Friday, shows the First Lady at a roadside akara stand wearing an apron bearing the inscription, “Iya Alakara, Fueling the Nation with Love.”

The post followed Mrs Tinubu’s recent remarks during an interview, where she encouraged Nigerians to embrace small businesses that require little start-up capital.

“We’re trying to give hope, and to start 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 had said.

Her comments quickly divided public opinion, with many Nigerians arguing that they failed to reflect the economic realities facing millions of citizens, while others defended her, saying she was simply encouraging entrepreneurship through government grants.

The Presidency’s AI-generated image has now added a new twist to the conversation.

While supporters described the post as humorous and a clever response to the online buzz surrounding the “Iya Alakara” nickname, critics accused the government of making light of the economic hardship many Nigerians are currently facing.

Reacting on X, @Top_GunM wrote:

“Warra country. It’s so unfortunate. This is meant to be the wife of the president of the most populous black nation in the world and this is what she’s being reduced to.”

Another user, #mizmuchstella, criticised the Presidency’s media team, saying:

“Whoever is the handler of this account should be sacked. Your job is to position this government as good, but it is obvious you have no basic knowledge of your job.”

User #WilverZaddy also faulted the post, arguing that it mocked Nigerians struggling with the country’s economic situation.

“I hope Nigerians are seeing the man they voted for using them to catch cruise? Is this what a president is supposed to say? A president directly mocking the masses while the economy bites harder with high level of insecurity in the country.”

Another commenter, #ChimaAmako82045, described the image as an insult to Nigerians, while #outtahighbee argued that the Presidency was damaging its own reputation by turning a serious national conversation into entertainment.

Similarly, #gentrytee22 said the post reflected how poorly the government valued its citizens, describing it as “a nationwide meme.”

Highlighting the country’s rising cost of living, #AminJaman noted that even akara has become significantly more expensive because of the increasing prices of beans, cooking oil, transportation and cooking gas.

Not everyone opposed the post.

User #SirTimeyin defended the Presidency, arguing that Nigerians had originally turned the First Lady’s comments into memes and comedy skits before the government responded in kind.

“When the First Lady’s ‘Akara’ comment became content, Nigerians turned it into skits, memes and endless cruise. We laughed and moved on. Now the President has added his own quota to the same joke, and everyone is wailing.”

Another supporter, #sto0511M, praised the AI image and encouraged the Presidency to continue releasing similar content.

The controversy gained even more attention after President Bola Tinubu, during the Presidential Press Corps Dinner at the State House on Thursday, jokingly referred to his wife as “Iya Alakara” while acknowledging dignitaries in attendance.

With reactions continuing to pour in across social media, the AI-generated image has further fueled the national conversation, leaving Nigerians divided over whether the Presidency was simply embracing internet humour or trivialising the country’s economic realities.