22/08/2026
The recent Tony O. Elumelu and UBA graduate controversy has made me think about something bigger than what happened in that particular video.
I honestly think we are being unfair to the young lady.
Let me be clear: respect matters. I was raised in a culture where we are taught to respect our elders, our seniors and people in positions of authority. In our African culture, how you address someone matters. “Good morning, Sir” or “Good morning, Ma” is not just a formality; it is part of how we communicate respect.
But what happens when we deliberately remove those conventions from the workplace?
My understanding is that UBA has a culture of addressing colleagues by their first names, regardless of their position. If that is the culture an organisation has intentionally created, why should we be surprised when a young graduate follows that culture?
My sister is currently serving as an NYSC member at another major Nigerian bank. She tells me they are also encouraged to address colleagues by their first names.
Interestingly, she says she sometimes feels extremely uncomfortable calling senior colleagues by their first names because of how she was raised. But she has encountered situations where some senior colleagues will not respond when addressed as “Mr” or “Mrs” because they expect to be called by their first name.
So what exactly is the young person supposed to do?
We cannot have it both ways.
You cannot tell young employees, “We are all equal here. Call me by my first name. We don't believe in hierarchy,” and then, when they do exactly that, tell them they have crossed a line because you are actually their senior.
That is where I think the older generation needs to take some responsibility.
We have changed the rules and then become angry when the younger generation plays by the new rules.
We have introduced first-name cultures in the name of wokeness, equality, accessibility and team bonding. We tell young people that titles create unnecessary barriers. We encourage them to speak freely and relate with senior colleagues as members of one team.
Then suddenly, when they behave according to the culture we created, we remind them:
“But I am your senior.”
