A viral exchange between United Bank for Africa Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, and a young executive trainee has sparked debate over the use of first names in Nigerian workplaces.
The discussion followed a video from Thursday’s graduation ceremony of UBA’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme, where the trainee addressed Elumelu as “Tony” during an interactive session.
Elumelu initially appeared to mishear her, asking if she had said “Toyin.” After she clarified that she had said “Good morning, Tony,” he corrected her and asked 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,” he said.
The trainee subsequently addressed him as “Mr Elumelu” and continued with her question.
The incident has divided opinion among Nigerians and corporate workers, with some arguing that first-name culture promotes equality in the workplace, while others believe age, rank and the setting should determine how senior colleagues are addressed.
Jide Akintunde questioned Elumelu’s response, noting that the businessman had long been publicly associated with the name Tony. He argued that correcting the trainee publicly could have been uncomfortable for her and suggested that Elumelu could have communicated his preference privately.
Others defended Elumelu, saying the correction was neither harsh nor disrespectful. Some argued that employees should not assume that first-name policies apply to every workplace or individual, particularly when dealing with senior executives at formal events.
Several commentators also highlighted differences between Western workplace practices and Nigerian cultural expectations. They argued that respect for age and status remains an important part of Nigerian workplace etiquette, even as organisations increasingly adopt less formal communication styles.
The debate has also raised questions about the consistency of first-name policies in Nigerian companies, with some workers recalling workplaces where senior executives encouraged employees to use their first names.
The discussion has ultimately shifted beyond Elumelu’s response to a broader question: should first-name culture be universal in Nigerian workplaces, or should employees consider factors such as age, hierarchy, setting and individual preference?
