The President’s light-hearted remark drew laughter and applause from guests, including senior government officials, media executives and members of the State House Press Corps.

The nickname follows the widespread public debate generated by the First Lady’s recent remarks encouraging Nigerians to consider small-scale businesses such as selling akara, roasted corn and kuli-kuli as viable means of livelihood that require relatively little start-up capital.

Speaking after the second-quarter meeting of the Renewed Hope Initiative with the wives of state governors at the Presidential Villa, Senator Tinubu explained that her office provides grants—not loans—to support petty traders and entrepreneurs as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“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,” the First Lady had said.

Her comments sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some Nigerians criticising the remarks amid prevailing economic challenges, while others argued that she was highlighting entrepreneurship and the importance of supporting the informal sector through grants.

Following the controversy, the First Lady clarified that the empowerment programme extends beyond akara sellers to include traders dealing in tomatoes, peppers, vegetables, roasted plantain (bole) and other small-scale businesses, stressing that the intervention is designed to strengthen livelihoods across the informal economy.

President Tinubu’s jocular reference to his wife as “Iya Alakara” appeared to acknowledge the public conversation surrounding the remarks while injecting humour into the evening’s proceedings at the maiden Presidential Press Corps Dinner.

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The baby, a girl named Favour Stephen-Odion was born to the family of Mr Odion Oyinbo and Mrs Chioma Odion at exactly 12.27 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 1. She weighed 3.6kg,

The first lady also received other babies born at the hospital, including the first baby of the year 2025, Zimchikachim Ejiofor who weighed 3kg, born to the family of Mr Ejiofor Nworie and Mrs Delight at about 7.14 a.m.

Remi gave baby gifts, including post-natal care products and other nutritional supplies, as well as cash gifts to the new horns.

Represented by the wife of the Vice-President, Mrs Nana Shettima, the first lady prayed to God to protect the children, wishing them long life, good health, and prosperity.

She said, “I am here to represent the mother of the nation to welcome the first baby of the year and other children.”

“So, I’m presenting this token and a beautiful package to our dear daughter. I want to wish her well, long life, prosperity, good health.”

“Insha Allah, they (first baby and other babies) are the next generation to take over from us. I wish you all the best. Please take good care of her.”

The First Lady counselled mothers of the newborn babies on exclusive breastfeeding, immunisation, and timely post-natal care. She however presented birth certificates to the first baby of the year and the first baby boy.

Dr Rosemary Nwokorie, the acting Chief Medical Director of Asokoro District Hospital, Abuja, while welcoming the First Lady, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for commitment to transforming the nation’s health sector.

Nwokorie also applauded the First Lady and the wife of the Vice-President for initiating various intervention programmes, especially Renewed Hope Initiative toward assisting vulnerable Nigerians, especially women, and children.

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