Former Group Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu, has stirred reactions online after correcting a young woman who addressed him by his first name during a public event.
The incident occurred on Thursday during a question-and-answer session at UBA’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme.
In a video that has gone viral on social media, the graduating student addressed Elumelu as “Tony” while asking her question. Surprised by the manner of address, Elumelu asked her to repeat what she had called him before correcting her.
He explained that he preferred to be addressed as “Mr. Elumelu,” “T.O.E.” or “Chairman,” stressing that he does not identify with what he described as a Western approach to addressing elders and senior figures by their first names.
“No, you won’t call me Tony. I’m not those ones. You will call me Mr. Elumelu, T.O.E. or Chairman. I don’t subscribe to that kind of Oyinbo life,” he said.
The exchange generated mixed reactions on social media. While some users criticised the young woman for what they considered a lack of respect, others argued that she may have simply been following a more informal style of communication often associated with younger generations.
Some commentators said the incident highlighted the importance of understanding the setting and showing appropriate respect, particularly when addressing senior executives or leaders.
Others, however, praised Elumelu for remaining calm and continuing with the interaction despite the unexpected form of address.
The incident has since sparked a wider online discussion about respect, workplace etiquette, generational differences and the growing influence of Western communication styles in Nigerian society.
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