Billionaire businessman and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, has sparked an intense online conversation regarding workplace etiquette and cultural respect after publicly correcting a young lady who addressed him by his first name.
The exchange took place during an interactive question-and-answer session at the bank’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme graduation ceremony in Lagos.
“You won’t call me Tony”
As the young graduate stood up to ask a question, she opened with, “Good morning, Tony.”
Elumelu initially appeared surprised, double-checking if she had said “Toyin.” When the lady clarified that she had indeed addressed him as “Tony,” the Heirs Holdings chairman immediately interrupted to set expectations regarding how he should be addressed.
“No, you won’t call me Tony. You’ll call me Mr Elumelu or TOE,” he said. “I don’t subscribe to that kind of… Oyinbo life, okay?”
The graduate quickly adjusted her greeting to “Good morning, Mr Elumelu,” before proceeding with her question.
Sparks debate on corporate culture vs. African tradition
The viral video clip has drawn mixed reactions across social media platforms, reopening a long-standing debate on corporate hierarchy, modern workplace informality, and African cultural deference to elders.
While some social media users argued that the lady was simply applying modern corporate culture—where first-name greetings are often encouraged in foreign tech and banking environments—others emphasised that reading the room and using titles as a default safety measure remains basic social intelligence, particularly when addressing senior executives in African contexts.
Watch the exchange on our Telegram Channel.
Read Also: Man drags billionaire Tony Elumelu for not inviting his workers to his star-studded Christmas party
