ABUJA - President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday jokingly referred to the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, as "Iya Alakara" during a public event, in an apparent light-hearted reference to the controversy sparked by her recent remarks encouraging women to engage in small-scale businesses.

The President made the remark while addressing guests at the Presidential Press Corps Dinner held at the State House in Abuja.

A video shared by Aso Rock TV captured Tinubu smiling as he acknowledged dignitaries before introducing his wife with the humorous nickname.

"Good evening, gentlemen of the press, ladies and gentlemen, my dear wife, the First Lady, Iya Alakara," the President said, drawing laughter from members of the audience.

The remark comes weeks after the First Lady advised Nigerian women to consider small businesses such as selling akara (bean cakes), roasted corn and kuli-kuli under the Renewed Hope Initiative's economic empowerment programme.

She had stated that such businesses "don't take much money" to start, a comment that attracted widespread criticism on social media. Many Nigerians argued that the statement was insensitive to the country's prevailing economic hardship and underestimated the challenges faced by citizens struggling with rising living costs.

Responding to the criticism earlier this week, Oluremi Tinubu clarified that the government's empowerment programme was never limited to akara sellers but was designed to support a broad range of petty traders.

Speaking during the inauguration of the newly constructed Abubakar Maje Haruna Hall at the Emir of Hadejia's Palace in Jigawa State, the First Lady disclosed that the Federal Government had donated ₦100 million to empower 2,000 small-scale traders in the state.

Addressing the controversy directly, she said:

"I know they've been talking that I said akara. It's not only akara; we also have tomato sellers. We have boole, and those also selling pepper and vegetables in the market."

According to her, the initiative is aimed at strengthening small businesses by providing financial support to traders across various sectors.

"We will continue to empower them and add to their resources so that their trade can really be sustainable," she added.

President Tinubu's light-hearted reference has generated fresh reactions on social media, with some Nigerians viewing it as a humorous attempt to defuse the controversy, while others interpreted it as an acknowledgement of the widespread public attention the First Lady's remarks had attracted.