A viral video involving United Bank for Africa Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, has sparked a heated debate among Nigerians over whether employees should address senior executives by their first names in the workplace.
The controversy began during the graduation ceremony of UBA’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme, where a young executive trainee greeted Elumelu with, “Good morning, Tony.”
Elumelu initially appeared to mishear her and asked if she had said “Toyin.” After she clarified that she had called him Tony, he corrected her and instructed her to address him as “Mr Elumelu” or “TOE.” He also said he did not subscribe to what he described as “Oyinbo life.”
The trainee subsequently addressed him as “Mr Elumelu” before continuing with her question.
Nigerians Divided Over the Incident
The video quickly generated debate on social media, with Nigerians divided over whether Elumelu's correction was appropriate or whether the trainee should have been allowed to use his first name.
Some commentators argued that the young trainee should have shown greater respect because she was addressing a senior executive at a formal corporate event.
Others, however, said Elumelu could have handled the situation privately rather than correcting the trainee in front of an audience.
One commentator argued that the incident highlighted the power imbalance between a young trainee and a senior corporate executive, suggesting that the correction could have been embarrassing for her.
Workplace First-Name Culture Under Scrutiny
The incident has also revived discussions about first-name policies in Nigerian workplaces.
Some companies encourage employees to address colleagues and even senior executives by their first names as part of efforts to create a more open and less hierarchical corporate culture.
Others maintain more traditional workplace practices, where employees are expected to use titles such as “Sir,” “Ma,” “Mr” or “Mrs,” particularly when dealing with senior officials.
Some Nigerians argued that the appropriate form of address should depend on the individual's preference and the specific workplace culture.
Others maintained that when there is uncertainty, employees should initially use a formal title until a senior colleague gives permission to use their first name.
Age and Nigerian Culture Become Part of the Debate
The discussion has also gone beyond corporate policy, with many Nigerians pointing to the country's strong cultural emphasis on respect for age and social status.
Some commentators argued that regardless of workplace policies, addressing an older person by their first name during a formal event may be considered disrespectful in Nigerian society.
Others questioned the inconsistency of applying first-name rules, noting that junior workers are sometimes expected to use the first names of older support staff while senior executives receive more formal treatment.
The debate has therefore become a wider conversation about the balance between modern workplace culture, corporate hierarchy and traditional Nigerian values.
No Universal Rule
The incident highlights the fact that first-name culture does not operate the same way across all Nigerian organisations.
While some companies deliberately encourage first-name communication, others retain formal titles, particularly for senior management.
Ultimately, the debate surrounding Elumelu's interaction has raised a broader question: Should workplace first-name policies override traditional expectations of respect, or should employees follow the preferences of individual senior executives?
For many Nigerians, the answer appears to depend on the organisation, the setting and, most importantly, the preference of the person being addressed.
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