By Ghazali Ibrahim
Billionaire businessman and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, has sparked reactions online after correcting a graduate trainee who addressed him simply as “Tony” during a recent UBA event.
In a video circulating on social media, the young trainee approached Elumelu and began her interaction by saying, “Good morning, Tony.”
Elumelu immediately interrupted her and told her that he preferred to be addressed as “Mr. Elumelu” or “TOE.”
“You won’t call me Tony. You’ll call me Mr. Elumelu or TOE. You won’t call me Tony, or call me Chairman. I don’t subscribe to that kind of oyinbo life,” he said.
The trainee quickly acknowledged the correction and continued her question, saying, “Good morning, Mr. Elumelu, my question is…”
The exchange has generated reactions across social media, with users debating differences between workplace culture, generational expectations and how young professionals should address senior executives.
The incident occurred amid activities surrounding UBA’s Graduate Management Acceleration Programme (GMAP), an initiative aimed at developing young professionals through intensive training and workplace experience.
Earlier in 2026, UBA graduated and inducted 720 trainees from cohorts 19 and 20 at a ceremony in Lagos, with women making up more than 60 per cent of the intake.
Meanwhile, Elumelu is expected to step down as UBA Group Chairman on August 21, 2026, after completing the maximum 12-year tenure permitted for non-executive directors under corporate governance rules.
UBA’s board has appointed Emmanuel Nnorom, a serving non-executive director and chartered accountant, as his successor, effective August 21.
