21/08/2026
I think respect is earned, and Tony Elumelu deserves a certain level of respect. In fact, that is probably why he made it clear how he wanted to be addressed, so that others would not take the same liberty.
He may have overlooked it somewhere else, but perhaps not when it comes to an African who understands our culture. We cannot simply do away with our cultures and traditions. They are part of who we are.
If Mr. were her father, she probably wouldn’t call him by his first name. She would most likely say, “Sir.” So, while she wasn’t entirely wrong, I believe a lot more was expected of her as an African. We generally do not address our elders by their first names, especially someone who is significantly older than us.
Let’s even forget the fact that Mr. Elumelu is a billionaire. He is roughly twice her age, and he is also her boss. That alone should have demanded a certain level of courtesy and respect.
Trust me, it is better to make it clear when you cannot tolerate something than to ignore it and give people the impression that you are comfortable with it. Otherwise, it may happen again, especially when others assume that you have no problem with it.
That name was supposed to carry some weight in her mouth. Your boss, for that matter. She should have considered what she stood to lose before taking that liberty.
If others had nothing to lose and chose to do it, that was their decision. She should have known better.
