Netizens have berated a young female graduate for addressing the United Bank for Africa Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, by his first name during an interactive session at the bank’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP) graduation ceremony held in Lagos on Thursday.

At the ceremony, which honoured 374 young professionals who completed the bank’s graduate programme, the lady addressed Mr Elumelu, saying, “Good morning, Tony.”

Mr Elumelu, who initially appeared to joke about the address, later corrected the young lady, insisting he preferred to be addressed as ‘Mr Elumelu’ or ‘TOE’.

“Okay. No, you won’t call me Tony. 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?” Mr Elumelu stated.

The development had generated a flurry of reactions on social media.

“Civilisation is not an excuse for stupidity. Thank you, Mr Elumelu,” a Facebook user, Odunayo Adenimi, said.

Adedipe Olugbenga commented, “This new generation children are actually very rude and this is due to poor parenting, studying abroad or wherever shouldn’t take away our culture. It’s a shame that a lady of her age should be calling someone old enough to her father by first name.”

“Poor upbringing, lack of respect is not allowed, even here we still maintain some level of respect,” Clement Folorunso said.

Ifetobi Esan added, “Regardless of where you live or being raised, culture must not be forgotten. It’s very obvious that this young lady lacks proper home training.”

“You can behave like the Romans when and only when you’re in Rome! For those claiming it’s only because it’s Nigeria or Africa when you can travel, don’t read the room before you call your boss by his first name and enjoy your awkward embarrassment,” said Duke Andy.

However, other Facebook users argued that nothing was wrong with her approach, adding that she might have been influenced by contemporary corporate culture.

“She didn’t do anything wrong here. He is Tony, simple. You guys are funny. You call Elon Musk by his name, but you guys have an issue with the young girl calling him Tony? Funny and senseless people,” said Kabito Ex Boss.

Adeyemi Benjamin, “She did nothing wrong going by the bank ethics. It’s not oyinbo life. It’s professional ethics in the banking sector.”

“All this defence because Tony Elumelu is rich, and should not be disrespected by a Gen Z. People call their security men who are several years older than them by their name, but there’s no issue with that. Mr Elumelu has an issue with being called by his first name. Personally, without being told, I would simply address him as ‘Sir’, and then ask my question,” Stephen Sesugh reasoned.

Isaac Witherspoon noted, “In Finland, the president and professor are called by their first name. It doesn’t diminish them. Africans love to complicate things. Before the arrival of the colonisers, were you Mr? You didn’t even have last names. You were called ‘son of’ and ‘daughter of.”

“Not subscribing to professional unawareness, but she got confidence. Never one sec was she tripped!” JV Mjay commented.