Tony Elumelu Addresses Trainee Over Informal Name Use

During the induction of 5,000 newly recruited staff at United Bank for Africa, Chairman Tony Elumelu confronted a graduate trainee who addressed him simply as “Tony.” Surprised by the informal address, Elumelu requested the trainee to correct herself. When she repeated the name “Tony” upon a second opportunity, Elumelu took the moment to explain his preference for respectful forms of address.

He stated that he does not subscribe to what he referred to as “Oyinbo” culture, which implies a Westernized approach to addressing authority figures. This incident has sparked discussions on social media regarding workplace etiquette, generational differences, and the proper way to address senior executives in Nigeria's corporate environment.