Elumelu's Vintage Roasted Corn Video Trends After First Lady's Small Business Call

A previously recorded video featuring Nigerian billionaire businessman, Tony Elumelu, engaging in the purchase of roasted corn from a street vendor, has recently gained widespread attention across various social media platforms. This resurgence comes merely days after Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria's First Lady, publicly advocated for citizens to consider venturing into small-scale enterprises such as selling popular Nigerian snacks like akara, roasted corn, and kuli-kuli.

The footage, reportedly from around 2019 and now extensively shared by blogs and online users since Sunday, captures Mr. Elumelu, impeccably dressed in a formal suit, navigating a bustling Lagos expressway alongside his security detail. He is observed approaching a modest roadside stall, identifiable by its yellow umbrella, where he pauses to examine ears of roasted corn displayed on a grill. Following a brief interaction with the vendor, the Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) and founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation proceeds to make a purchase. At the time of its initial sharing, Elumelu had captioned the video, stating, “Jollof is nice but some days we sample roasted corn along the Lagos express… Some cravings die hard.”

The renewed interest in this video clip is directly linked to comments made by the First Lady towards the end of June 2026. During an address concerning government grants for small businesses under the “Renewed Hope Initiative,” Senator Tinubu suggested that starting ventures like akara or roasted corn sales required minimal initial capital. Her intention was to offer a glimmer of hope amidst the prevailing economic difficulties faced by average Nigerians. However, these remarks attracted considerable backlash online, with many critics perceiving them as disconnected from the harsh realities and economic struggles confronting the populace.

Social media reactions to the now-viral Elumelu video have been varied. Some users commended the billionaire for his apparent humility and relatability in patronising local street vendors. Conversely, others, possibly unaware of the video's age, questioned its timing, speculating it might be a subtle endorsement of the First Lady's statements or a deliberate public relations strategy.

An X user identified as @MosesUgwum75755 expressed, “Please don’t blame Tony, he is trying to protect his investments by validating Remi Tinubu’s statement on akara frying. If you can’t beat them, you join them.” Similarly, @Goddeywitholu commented, “Tiffs and hypocrites all of them suddenly knows how to eat roasted corn and take videos and pictures of it after ejalonibu wife talked about it.” Another user, @SirHenroDeGreat, characterized the video's reappearance as an attempt to align with the ongoing conversation, writing, “Who goes to buy corn and film or records himself? … Even the High and mighty have jumped on the trend of Akara and Corn to endorse what was said by their bosses.”

However, not all reactions were critical. Some users viewed the video as a normal occurrence, such as @Olavibezng, who posted, “Who tells you say rich man no dey chop watin poor people dey chop? Bro, if na garri and ground nut you chop, be happy and hope for the best. Tony Elumelu dey chop.” Likewise, @aynecon downplayed the significance of the video's attention, remarking, “Hen-hen, what so special about it? What about us buying from them? Do we come from Pluto or Uranus? Why do you even think those guys are Semi God self. How does that make headline or something of importance?”