When President Tinubu jokingly called his wife ‘Iya Alakara,’ the room erupted with the usual gimmick. A typical Nigerian moment where a high-level official’s speech is followed by laughter or applause even when it deserves none, but who cares? Anything to show the master has a sense of humour.
His joke came after his wife, Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, publicly advised women to start small by frying Akara or kulikuli because, apparently, why implement systemic policies when you can provide small grants for akara selling, or promote Women in STEM when they can steam-fry kulikuli. Days later, Iya Alakara would insist that the backlash would not deter the programme’s continuation.
As usual, reactions flooded in, from lengthy commentaries to hilarious skits. A typical Nigerian coping mechanism.
While defending Iya Alakara, the so-called progressive youth leaders held a press conference, proudly proclaiming that, instead of prostitution, frying akara is a demonstration of dignity.
He noted that turning kulikuli into national virtues is obviously the way forward for a country grappling with gender inequality in job opportunities.
Such a statement is a demonstration of a forward-thinking society and a contribution to how national empowerment at its best is reducing poverty. Though the akara seller under a bamboo tent by the roadside to your house might still be as poor as they were decades ago, yes, the metric shows the economy is growing, and the empowerment is working.
Economists took to Twitter, insisting that Iya Alakara’s comments reveal the government’s eagerness to exploit the 1 billion naira informal economy. After all, investing in education and infrastructure may be far-fetched, but empowering women to fry akara is a quick, measurable progress that can provide metrics for next year’s campaign agenda.
On social media, APC supporters circulated AI-generated images of the First Lady in an apron; in Nigeria, nothing unites a political party like a photoshopped picture and propaganda. Meanwhile, the media dutifully shared updates and opinions with their usual gusto. Among other issues, akara deserves a place on the front page of national dailies.
Content creators rushed to set up ring lights for their two-minute videos, all inspired by the idea that if they can’t fry akara, at least they can earn enough to buy some, thereby supporting the economy in their own way.
Next time you see women frying akara, remember your first lady’s efforts to get women empowered and build the next billionaire businesswoman.
Sulyman Pakoyi is a journalist specialising in developmental journalism. You can find some of his occasional rants @bolarank on X or read some of his work here.
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