Toni Elumelu's Roasted Corn Video Goes Viral Again

A video featuring billionaire businessman Toni Elumelu purchasing roasted corn from a roadside vendor has resurfaced and gone viral on social media. This resurgence follows comments made by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who, in late June 2023, encouraged Nigerians to explore small-scale businesses such as selling akara and roasted corn.

The footage, which dates back to around 2019, shows Elumelu, the Chairman of United Bank for Africa and founder of the Toni Elumelu Foundation, dressed in a formal suit, interacting with the vendor under a yellow umbrella along the Lagos Expressway. The video has drawn mixed reactions online, with some praising Elumelu for supporting local vendors, while others criticized the timing of the video in light of current economic hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians.

The discussions surrounding the video reflect broader concerns about economic challenges and the viability of small-scale businesses in Nigeria.