VIDEO: ”I don’t subscribe to that Oyinbo life,” Moment UBA Group chair, Tony Elumelu chides trainee graduate who called him by his first name during Q&A session
The Group Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, has drawn mixed reactions after correcting a young woman who addressed him as “Tony”, sparking debate on respect and how younger people address their elders.
In a video that has gone viral, the woman was heard saying, “Good morning, Tony,” while greeting the businessman. Elumelu initially appeared to mishear her, replying, “Toyin? Toyin?”
When she clarified, he said: “Okay. No, you won’t call me Tony. You’ll call me Mr Elumelu or TOE. You won’t call me Tony. I don’t subscribe to that kind of… Oyinbo life, okay?”
Click the link to watch the video.
Here are some of the reactions:
Tobi Peter (@Tobipeter8): Even Spider-Man no dey call Ironman Tony
Daniel Regha (@DanielRegha): If a reporter from a big media house abroad calls him Tony, he won’t be this displeased. You don’t subscribe to such life, but you were called Tony sometime ago abroad and took no offense. Excuse you.
Coded TV (@coded_tv): Courtesy demands when you are interacting with someone for the first time, you address them with title (Mr or Madam) until the person you give you the permission to address them by their first name. You do not have the right to call anyone by their first name even in Europe!
Nurudeen Yusuf (@nurayusuf): I actually see nothing wrong with addressing him by his first name. There’s real value in that kind of informal culture,it improves the work environment. Back in 2018, while working at First Bank, this was part of the change process implemented to modernisation our culture. It worked. I’m honestly more disappointed in Tony here, he’s the CEO of a global company and well travelled.
SON OF GOD. (@JESUSBROOTHER): I got pissed watching the video, I’m like not even single address, or a common sir, Is that how she greets her dad, Even if they teach you that in the training, THEORY AND PRACTICAL are not twins, if they are, then they are very unidentical. Omo, common sense is not common oo.
BuildLinkNG (@buildlinkng): Some of you are shameless. As if you wouldn’t do worst if addressed as such. Well, as for her. Not all employers like to be addressed as their first name, even though Tony tried to be too polite and friendly, it was obvious it didn’t sit well with him and this is his own company before see finish enter. Na go Nigeria gen Z dey hear o, den no dey hear come. If na another Employer, den no need tell you, na sack den go sack you
Prompt With Daniel (@dahunt_): Even Oyobo people would have addressed him as Mr Elumelu .. it’s not even oyobo life it’s just disrespect and stupidity
Chippy-Chips (@Chippy27): What’s your name again??
Àkànní (@idofoi): Mr. Tony Elumelu never said that calling him by name is wrong. He simply stated how he prefers to be addressed — as a traditional African man. And if you have a problem with that, when you get home, go and call your own father by his name. Oloriburuku omo ale…😂
Comrade Ayumzi (@ayumzi): She lacks basic home training but someone else wouldn’t mind to be addressed without any of those but actually she shouldn’t even have been bold enough to call someone this aged even if it were some never do well, you had still show some respect for that age itself is an achievement in a country where many people dun kpoof go… if you see a rustic weather beaten man still standing he deserves respect his survival instincts is worthy of admiration despite any financial setback ….
‘Dèmilàdè Brown🇳🇬🏴☠️ (@Brown__mi): In East of Africa, they address individuals with their first name. No disrespect here
CREDO (@Credo_promotion): Your name is Tony. You also have the right to tell people how to address but in that case make it a rule. The young lady has all right to call you by your name
Oyiri nna ya 🇨🇦 (@miizkaphee): Wisdom they say is profitable to direct. You are in Nigeria where respect is tied to everything. this is a man used to people of all ages bowing to him and then comes you, with your padded shoulders addressing him like he is your course mate. lol. He no believe him ears
S.G🇨🇩🇺🇸 (@songigaius): Are still bothered about being called Tony or Mr Tony.
Henry Kaizen (@HenryKaizen): Well, his name is Tony and I don’t see anything wrong she did. And it’s fine he prefers being addressed in a certain way, and that’s ok too. Two truth can coexist. She’s not wrong. Now she knows better.
Lau Lau Pikin (@LauLau4pf): The girl should be sacked. She won’t dare call her female boss by her name. Na feminism bring this rubbish come
SirJay (@sirjaay): A lot of people won’t understand where this is coming from. Most multinationals have a first-name policy — an organisational culture where everyone, regardless of rank, addresses each other by first name. She may have come from that kind of environment and simply assumed UBA operates the same way. Still, if she was in any doubt, a more formal address would have been safer. If TOE preferred first name only, he could have said so — and no one would have been embarrassed.
DAMIL 🍀☘️ (@Dvmilofficial): Too real 😂
Smith Omobolaji (@omobolaji_omob): Dfkm
Bigdaddy (@3nd_Well): Even when iron man wants die e still call am “Mr stark” sef