Archived footage of Elumelu purchasing grilled corn reemerges following First Lady's comment

A video of billionaire businessman Tony Elumelu purchasing roasted corn from a roadside vendor has reemerged on social media, just days after First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu urged Nigerians to explore small-scale business ventures, including selling akara, roasted corn, and kuli-kuli.

n

In the footage, which was taken along a busy Lagos expressway, Elumelu is seen approaching a roadside stall, inspecting the roasted corn, and interacting with the vendor before making a purchase, all while dressed in a formal suit and accompanied by his entourage.

n

The video shows Elumelu walking towards the stall, which is shaded by a yellow umbrella, and selecting a few ears of roasted corn from the grill, highlighting his willingness to engage with local vendors.

n

At the time of sharing the video, Elumelu commented, “Jollof is nice but some days we sample roasted corn along the Lagos express… Some cravings die hard,” revealing his appreciation for the local snack.

n

PUNCH Online reports that the clip, which dates back to around 2019, has been widely circulated by blogs and users on Sunday, following the renewed interest in small-scale businesses.

n

The renewed interest in the video comes after Senator Tinubu's comments at the end of June 2026, where she addressed support for small businesses through government grants under the Renewed Hope Initiative, stating that starting ventures like akara or roasted corn businesses requires little capital.

n

Senator Tinubu's remarks drew significant criticism online, with many viewing them as out of touch with the current economic hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians, prompting a wave of negative reactions on social media.

n

Social media reactions to the Elumelu video have been mixed, with some users praising the billionaire's relatability and humility in patronizing local vendors, while others have questioned the timing of the video's resurfacing.

n

An X user, @MosesUgwum75755, criticized Elumelu, suggesting that the video serves as subtle support for the First Lady's narrative, writing, “Please don’t blame Tony, he is trying to protect his investments by validating Remi Tinubu’s statement on akara frying.

n

Another user, @Goddeywitholu, expressed similar sentiments, stating, “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,” implying that the video's resurfacing is an attempt to align with the recent conversation.

n

User @SirHenroDeGreat also described the resurfaced video as an attempt to endorse the First Lady's statement, 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.

n

However, not all users viewed the video as unusual, with @Olavibezng writing, “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.

n

User @aynecon dismissed the attention surrounding the video, saying, “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.

n

Elumelu is a prominent businessman, serving as the chairman of the United Bank for Africa and founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, a position that has earned him significant respect and recognition in the business community.