United Bank for Africa Chairman Tony Elumelu corrected a young attendee who called him by his first name during a public interactive session, and the exchange has since circulated widely online.
When the attendee began her question with “Good morning, Tony,” Elumelu interrupted her.
“No, you won’t call me Tony… You call me Mr Elumelu, or TOE, or Chairman. I don’t subscribe to that kind of Oyinbo life, okay?” he said.
The attendee quickly repeated her greeting as “Mr Elumelu” and proceeded with her question. The session continued after the correction.
Video of the moment has drawn divided reactions across social media. Some users backed formal address in Nigerian corporate settings, while others argued that casual greetings are now common in younger professional environments.
The discussion has centred on generational differences, workplace etiquette and the balance between local cultural respect and foreign-style informality.
