“I Don’t Subscribe to Oyinbo Life” — Elumelu Schools Lady for Calling Him by First Name

UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, has corrected a young lady for addressing him by his first name during an interactive session at the bank’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme, GMAP, graduation ceremony.

The exchange occurred on Thursday as Elumelu interacted with graduates of the programme.

The young woman began her address by saying, “Good morning, Tony,” prompting Elumelu to initially ask whether she had said “Toyin.”

After she clarified that she had addressed him as Tony, the businessman explained 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.

The young graduate subsequently corrected herself and addressed him as “Mr Elumelu” before continuing with her question.

The exchange has generated mixed reactions among Nigerians, with some supporting Elumelu’s position on formal address while others argued that the young woman may have been following modern corporate practices.

Some social media users said addressing senior executives by their first names is common in certain corporate environments, where organisations deliberately encourage less hierarchical communication.

Others, however, argued that formal occasions require appropriate titles, particularly when addressing senior executives in public.

One user described the incident as an issue of social awareness rather than Elumelu’s wealth, arguing that familiarity with an individual does not necessarily determine how they should be addressed in a formal setting.

Another commentator said even in Western corporate environments, the use of first names could depend on the organisation and the relationship between employees and senior executives.

The discussion also highlighted differences between traditional Nigerian workplace etiquette and newer corporate cultures adopted by some organisations.

The incident occurred as UBA celebrated 374 young professionals who completed its Graduate Management Accelerated Programme.

The bank described the graduates as part of the next generation of professionals and leaders across its African markets.

Elumelu had previously stated that the programme had trained more than 5,000 young professionals.

UBA said the latest graduates had acquired knowledge and practical experience to take on new responsibilities and contribute meaningfully across their respective markets.

The financial institution congratulated the graduates and urged them to lead with courage, purpose and a commitment to creating positive impact.

The exchange between Elumelu and the graduate has since renewed conversations about workplace etiquette, corporate culture and the appropriate use of titles when addressing senior executives in Nigeria.