Former and current employees of Nigerian banks have rallied to defend a young woman who faced backlash for addressing United Bank for Africa (UBA) Chairman Tony Elumelu by his first name during the induction of 5,000 newly recruited staff. The woman, who took a microphone to speak, referred to Elumelu simply as 'Tony,' prompting him to caution her against what he called 'Oyinbo' culture, asking her to add a prefix to his name.
While social media users criticized the woman, several bank staff have come forward to explain that first-name addressing is a common practice in Nigerian corporate banking, and some have even lost jobs for not adhering to it.
Former Banker Shares Experience at Access Bank and Diamond Bank
Daniel Chukwuemeka, a former banker who now lectures abroad, recounted an incident at Access Bank's Asaba branch when the then CEO, Aig-Imoukhuede, paid a surprise visit with his deputy, the late Herbert Wigwe. According to Chukwuemeka, the branch secretary addressed Aig with 'sir,' and it almost cost her the job.
"It almost got her fired. Our branch manager had to intervene and defend the secretary by saying she was new to the bank," Chukwuemeka wrote. "It was an eye opener for me. Later, I would learn that the practice is common in the corporate world. Within corporate spaces, the culture of first-name addressing is employed to create a cordial professional environment among employees."
Chukwuemeka also shared his experience at Diamond Bank, where he addressed the then CEO, now Abia State Governor, by his first name. "Oh yes, I said 'good afternoon Alex' the moment I walked into his office in Lagos for the final interview, as part of the recruitment process, having been a trainee for a few months at the bank's Owerre branch back then," he added. He noted that his students call him by name yet still show him the highest level of respect.
Business Leader Highlights Induction Training Contradiction
Modupe Okeowo, a business leader, shared her perspective on X, explaining that the woman's mistake was understandable given the induction training. "I understand it was a class of new recruits; the girl made an honest mistake. I also believe the induction at the training school conflicted her mind, as they are asked to address everyone within the system by their first name. You will genuinely see the struggle in the girl too," Okeowo wrote.
Okeowo recalled an incident from about 15 years ago during an induction class with Access Bank. "Herbert disengaged the best recruit (a brilliant girl) in that set for calling him 'Mr Herbert' right after passing out from induction training. He said it shows she didn't imbibe anything from the training," she said. She added that situational awareness should be taught to help young people understand culture adoption, emphasizing that the woman made an honest mistake.
Corporate Culture Clash Sparks Debate on Respect and Professionalism
The incident highlights a clash between traditional Nigerian deference to elders and the corporate banking culture that promotes egalitarian first-name addressing. While Elumelu's caution reflects a preference for formal titles, bank insiders argue that the training they receive explicitly instructs them to use first names to foster a friendly work environment.
As the debate continues on social media, the case has opened a broader conversation about how young professionals navigate cultural expectations versus corporate norms in Nigerian workplaces. The outcome of the woman's situation at UBA remains unclear, but the testimonies from former and current bank staff suggest that such practices are deeply entrenched in the industry.
