By Our Reporter
A young female graduate has sparked controversy on social media after addressing United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, by his first name during the bank’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP) graduation ceremony in Lagos.
The ceremony, held on Thursday, celebrated 374 young professionals who successfully completed the bank’s graduate management programme.
During an interactive session at the event, the graduate began her contribution by saying, “Good morning, Tony.”
Elumelu, who initially appeared to take the remark lightly, subsequently corrected her, making it clear that he preferred to be addressed as “Mr Elumelu” or “TOE.”
“Okay. No, you won’t call me Tony. You’ll call me Mr Elumelu or TOE. You won’t call me Tony, or chairman. I don’t subscribe to that kind of… Oyinbo life, okay?” he said.
His response generated a wave of reactions across social media, with Nigerians divided over whether the graduate’s manner of address amounted to disrespect or reflected contemporary corporate culture.
Some users criticised the young woman, arguing that age, position and Nigerian cultural values demanded a more respectful form of address.
A Facebook user, Odunayo Adenimi, wrote: “Civilisation is not an excuse for stupidity. Thank you, Mr Elumelu.”
Another user, Adedipe Olugbenga, described the incident as an indication of poor upbringing, arguing that exposure to foreign cultures should not lead young Nigerians to abandon traditional values of respect.
Clement Folorunso similarly described the development as a product of poor upbringing, while Ifetobi Esan argued that culture and respect should remain important regardless of where an individual lives or was raised.
Duke Andy said people should understand the cultural and professional environment they find themselves in before adopting practices from other countries.
However, some Nigerians defended the graduate, saying there was nothing inherently wrong with addressing a senior executive by his first name, particularly in a modern corporate environment.
Kabito Ex Boss argued that Elumelu is known publicly as Tony and questioned why addressing him by that name should automatically be considered disrespectful.
Adeyemi Benjamin also suggested that the graduate may have been acting in line with professional practices within the banking sector, rather than deliberately attempting to disrespect the UBA chairman.
Another Facebook user, Stephen Sesugh, said he would personally have addressed Elumelu as “Sir” but maintained that the controversy could also be viewed from the perspective of changing workplace norms.
Isaac Witherspoon cited countries where senior public officials and academics are routinely addressed by their first names, arguing that such practice does not necessarily diminish their status or authority.
Meanwhile, JV Mjay praised the graduate’s confidence, saying she did not appear intimidated during the interaction.
The controversy has consequently opened a broader debate about the balance between traditional Nigerian values of respect for age and status and the increasingly informal communication culture associated with modern workplaces.
While some Nigerians believe the graduate crossed a cultural boundary by addressing Elumelu as “Tony,” others maintain that professional environments should accommodate more egalitarian forms of communication, provided they are not intended to be disrespectful.
At the centre of the debate, however, remains Elumelu’s clear preference that he be addressed as “Mr Elumelu” or “TOE” rather than by his first name.