A viral video from the UBA Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP) 2026 graduation ceremony has ignited a heated online debate. The clip shows a female UBA trainee asking billionaire businessman and UBA Group Chairman Tony Elumelu whether she should continue content creation after her engagement dropped. The exchange, which began with the trainee addressing Elumelu by his first name, has drawn widespread criticism and defense across social media platforms.
Trainee's Question to Elumelu Draws Criticism
The video, shared by @naijareeltalk on TikTok, captures the moment the trainee asked Elumelu for advice on her personal content creation journey. She explained that she started creating content in 2025 but paused due to the rigorous nature of the GMAP program. Upon restarting, her engagement dropped significantly, prompting her to ask whether she should change her direction.
When Elumelu asked about her metrics, the trainee revealed she had 861 followers, previously averaged over 50 likes per post, but now receives only 5 to 20 likes per post. Elumelu jokingly replied that some content creators need to change their direction, acknowledging that many pursue content creation to build traction.
Initial Name Correction Sparks Debate
The controversy began when the trainee greeted Elumelu with "Good morning, Tony." Elumelu politely corrected her, saying: "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?" The trainee quickly corrected herself, greeting him as "Good morning, Mr Elumelu."
While initial online discussions centered on the first-name greeting, the focus shifted to the content creation question. A Nigerian man commenting on the TikTok clip expressed disbelief, saying: "You are asking Tony Elumelu about content, if you should continue. You have 800 followers, and you are asking if you should continue." He added: "So, this is even the question that this girl wanted to ask when she said 'Hello Tony'?"
Mixed Reactions and Broader Context
The video quickly gained traction across platforms, with many viewers sharing the TikToker's disbelief. Others defended the trainee, arguing that entrepreneurship and content creation are legitimate concerns for young Africans navigating career decisions in today's digital economy.
This incident follows a related report by Legit.ng, in which a businesswoman shared a strong opinion about the viral video. The earlier post sparked wide debate after the young woman was seen addressing Tony Elumelu by his first name, which many Nigerians found disrespectful.
