Mixed Reactions as 63-Year-Old Tony Elumelu Tells Gen Z Trainee Not to Call Him “Tony”

Nigerian billionaire and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, has sparked mixed reactions online after correcting a young graduate trainee who addressed him simply as “Tony” during an interaction at a UBA event.

The brief exchange, which was captured on video and shared widely on social media, has divided opinion, with some Nigerians describing the trainee’s approach as disrespectful while others believe there was nothing wrong with using Elumelu’s first name.

During an interaction with the young professionals, the trainee greeted Elumelu by saying, “Good morning, Tony” but Elumelu quickly interrupted and corrected her by telling her not to address him by his first name.

He instead told her to address him as “Mr Elumelu” or “TOE.”

Tony Elumelu Corrects Young Trainee Over How She Addressed Him at UBA event.

The incident has generated mixed reactions, with Nigerians sharing different perspectives on the conversation.

Some viewers argued that the trainee should have recognised Elumelu’s position and used an appropriate title rather than addressing him by his first name, adding that seemingly small mistakes in professional settings can sometimes affect career opportunities.

Also Read: Nigeria Introduces New Visa Application Requirements

Another Nigerian questioned whether the same trainee would address a university lecturer simply by their first name, suggesting that seniority and hierarchy should influence how people communicate in formal environments.

“She lacks home training, period. How can you address someone of that level of hierarchy by his first name, “Tony”? Can you imagine? So, can she also call her lecturer at the university by his first name?,” said Masudkaka.

However, not everyone agreed with the criticism, as some highlighted that calling someone by their first name is not inherently disrespectful, particularly in modern corporate environments where first-name communication is common.

“She did nothing wrong, his certificate states Tony, not Mr Tony or chairman Tony. We too love titles for this part of the world,” Deborah stated.

Others pointed out that employees in many service-oriented workplaces routinely use first names when interacting with customers, colleagues, and even senior executives.

They also suggested that the situation should be judged in context, noting that some senior professionals prefer formal titles, while others encourage younger colleagues to address them casually.

UBA’s GMAP Produces 720 Young Professionals in Lagos

The interaction took place during UBA’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP) graduation ceremony in Lagos.

Also Read: Kenyan Woman Heartbroken After Nigerian Man Dumps Her Because of Her Hands

UBA recently graduated 720 young professionals from Cohorts 19 and 20 of the programme. According to reports, Cohort 19 had 306 participants, while Cohort 20 had 414.

The programme is designed to train young professionals and prepare them for leadership roles within the financial services industry.

At the GMAP graduation, Tony Elumelu urged the young professionals to remain disciplined, hardworking, resilient, and focused as they build their careers.

He also stressed the importance of producing tangible results rather than relying solely on potential or academic qualifications.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news updates.

A photo of Tony Elumelu at the United Bank of Africa(UBA) event. Photo / File