‘I Don’t Subscribe to Oyinbo Life’ — Elumelu Schools Graduate Over His First-Name Calling 

UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, has gone viral after correcting a young graduate who addressed him by his first name during an interactive session at the bank’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme, GMAP, graduation ceremony.

In the viral video, the woman was heard saying, “Good morning, Tony,” while addressing the businessman, who initially appeared to take the remark lightly, responding, “Toyin? Toyin?”

When she clarified that she had said “Good morning, Tony,” Elumelu then explained that he preferred to be addressed as “Mr Elumelu” or “TOE.”

“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?” he said.

The woman subsequently corrected herself, saying, “Good morning, Mr Elumelu,” before proceeding with her question.

The exchange has generated mixed reactions on social media, with some Nigerians supporting Elumelu’s insistence on formal address at an official event, while others argued that the graduate may have been following modern corporate culture, where first-name interactions between employees and senior executives are common.

Some users described the incident as a matter of social awareness and respect for formal settings, while others said the young woman should not be harshly criticised because corporate workplaces often encourage employees to address senior executives by their first names.

The incident occurred as UBA celebrated 374 young professionals who completed its Graduate Management Accelerated Programme, which prepares emerging professionals for leadership roles across the bank’s African markets.

Elumelu has previously said the programme has trained more than 5,000 young professionals.

UBA described the latest graduates as part of the next generation of leaders and urged them to use the experience gained from the programme to create meaningful impact across their respective markets.