Don’t Call Me Tony’: Tony Elumelu Corrects UBA Trainee During GMAP Graduation Ceremony.
Lagos, Nigeria – August 2026
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group Chairman, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR, has sparked nationwide conversation after correcting a graduate trainee who addressed him by his first name at a bank event in Lagos.
The incident happened on Thursday during the graduation ceremony of UBA’s *Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP)* held at the bank’s headquarters. 720 trainees were present at the ceremony, with 300 of them converted from contract staff to full-time employees.
What Happened
In a viral video from the event, a female trainee stood to ask a question and opened her address with:
“Good morning, Tony.”
Elumelu, who was on stage, initially seemed to have misheard her and asked, “Toyin? Toyin?”
When she clarified, he responded firmly:
> “Okay. No, you won’t call me Tony. I’m not… you’ll call me Mr Elumelu or TOE. You won’t call me Tony, or Chairman. I don’t subscribe to that kind of… Oyinbo life, okay?”
The trainee immediately corrected herself, saying *“Good morning, Mr Elumelu”* before proceeding with her question.
Nigerians React
The clip has since gone viral on X, Instagram and TikTok, generating mixed reactions about workplace etiquette and corporate culture in Nigeria.
Some social media users supported Elumelu, arguing that in Nigerian professional and cultural settings, it is proper to address senior executives with respect and formal titles.
Others said first-name culture promotes openness and less hierarchy, noting that some banks even encourage it during training.
The debate was further fueled after an old video resurfaced of an MBA student addressing Elumelu as “Tony” during a Stanford University interview without any correction.
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Tony Elumelu’s response shows the importance of context. In a formal Nigerian corporate setting with trainees, respect and hierarchy still matter. While “Oyinbo” first-name culture works in some global companies, leaders also have the right to set how they want to be addressed. It’s not about pride, it’s about structure.
Source; Tribune online.
Watch the video below: 👇
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