Social media users have criticised a woman after she addressed billionaire businessman Tony Elumelu simply as “Tony” during a public gathering.
In a video circulating online, the unnamed woman stood up to ask Elumelu a question after what appeared to be a presentation by the businessman.
“Good morning Tony,” she began, prompting Elumelu to appear surprised. When she repeated the greeting, he interrupted and corrected her.
“Okay, no, you won’t call me Tony. I am not those… You will call me Mr Elumelu or T.O.E. You won’t call me Tony,” he said, adding that he did not subscribe to that style of addressing people.
The woman subsequently corrected herself and addressed him appropriately before asking her question.
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The incident has sparked debate online, with some Nigerians arguing that addressing older people or senior figures by their first names goes against traditional Nigerian values of respect.
Others, however, viewed the incident as a reflection of changing social norms, particularly in professional and international environments where first-name interactions are increasingly common.
Several Facebook users criticised the woman, with Churchill Umoren saying Africans often feel uncomfortable addressing elders or superiors by their first names, even in countries where it is considered normal.
Another user, Azuh Arinze, described the incident as “incredible,” while others also expressed disapproval of the woman’s approach.
Elumelu is chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa (UBA), chairman of Transcorp, and founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation.
