UBA trainee's greeting to Tony Elumelu sparks debate on corporate communication and hierarchy
A recent incident involving a UBA trainee addressing Tony Elumelu as "Tony" during a graduation ceremony has ignited discussions about corporate communication and workplace culture in Nigeria. The trainee, part of UBA's Graduate Management Accelerated Programme, was corrected by Elumelu, who requested to be addressed as "Mr. Elumelu" or "TOE." While the trainee immediately complied, the viral video led to online criticism, with many attributing her actions to a lack of respect or poor upbringing. The author suggests that the incident may highlight a broader issue of corporate communication rather than individual manners. Nigerian banking has a history of promoting informal, first-name corporate cultures to reduce hierarchy, exemplified by Guaranty Trust Bank GTBank and even Tony Elumelu's past leadership at Standard Trust Bank STB, where employees reportedly addressed him as "Tony." This historical context makes Elumelu's current preference for a more formal address notable. The article emphasizes that while individuals can change their preferences, organizations must clearly communicate any shifts in cultural expectations, especially to new employees. It argues that a workplace might have different communication rules for internal interactions versus formal or public events, and these distinctions need to be explicit. The author concludes that instead of publicly shaming employees for misinterpreting unwritten rules, companies should use such moments as opportunities to clar
