Tony Elumelu Corrects Lady Who Called Him By First Name
Billionaire businessman and philanthropist Tony Elumelu has attracted attention online after correcting a woman who addressed him by his first name during a public gathering.
The exchange was captured in a video that circulated widely on social media on Thursday, prompting discussions about respect, age and changing social norms in Nigeria.
The exact date and location of the event were not immediately clear from the video.
What happened between Tony Elumelu and the woman?
The woman stood up to ask Elumelu a question after what appeared to be a presentation by the businessman.
She began by saying, “Good morning Tony,” prompting Elumelu to appear surprised.
The woman repeated the greeting, again addressing him as Tony.
Elumelu then interrupted her and explained how he preferred to be addressed.
He told her to call him “Mr Elumelu” or “T.O.E.” rather than Tony.
“You won’t call me Tony. I am not that kind of… You will call me Mr Elumelu or T.O.E.,” he said.
Elumelu also said he did not subscribe to what he described as “oyinbo life” in reference to the practice of addressing people by their first names.
The woman subsequently corrected herself before continuing with her question.
Nigerians react to Tony Elumelu’s exchange
The brief interaction has generated mixed reactions online.
Some Nigerians viewed Elumelu’s response as consistent with traditional expectations around showing respect to older people and individuals in positions of authority.
Others considered the incident an example of changing social conventions, particularly in professional environments where first-name interactions are increasingly common.
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The discussion has therefore extended beyond the brief exchange, with social media users debating whether addressing someone by their first name should be considered disrespectful.
Who is Tony Elumelu?
Tony Elumelu, 63, is a prominent Nigerian businessman, investor and philanthropist.
He is chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa (UBA), as well as chairman of Transcorp.
He is also the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, which supports entrepreneurship and young business owners across Africa.
The viral exchange has added another layer to public interest in the businessman, with the video continuing to generate conversations about culture, professionalism and how Nigerians address influential figures.
