An old video of Nollywood actress Shaffy Bello talking about respect, age, and how young people address their elders has gone viral again, days after UBA Group Chairman Tony Elumelu was caught on camera correcting a trainee for calling him “Tony.
The resurfaced clip has reignited a national conversation about formality, generational values, and what “respect” looks like in Nigerian workplaces and public life.
In the clip, believed to be at least two years old, Bello speaks directly about young people calling her by her first name.I pull them closer and say, ‘You haven’t earned the right to call me by name. I have a child as old as you are. Even if I don’t have children, you haven’t earned the right, and you will never earn that right at your age to call me by name,'” she says.
Bello then laments what she sees as the disappearance of formal greetings.
“Whatever happened to ma’am? Good afternoon, ma’am, and there’s something about this ‘Hii’; I can’t stand it,” she adds
This is Africa, after all,” she concludes, before acknowledging that rudeness isn’t limited to young people. “There are rude adults out there as well.
The renewed interest in Bello’s comments comes after a viral video from UBA’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme ceremony.
In the clip, a young female trainee greeted Elumelu with “Good morning, Tony.”
Elumelu immediately corrected her, saying she should address him as “Mr Elumelu” or “TOE.” He added that he does not “subscribe to that kind of oyinbo lifestyle.
Some Nigerians defended Elumelu, saying respect and titles still matter in African corporate culture. Others argued that first-name address is now normal in modern, global companies, especially among younger professionals.
The debate intensified when an old 2022 clip resurfaced showing a Stanford Graduate School of Business student greeting Elumelu with “Hi Tony” during a fireside chat. In that setting, Elumelu responded warmly and did not correct the student.
The contrast led to accusations of inconsistency online. A widely shared post asked why “Tony” was acceptable at Stanford but not at UBA
Nigeria, like many African societies, places a strong emphasis on hierarchy, age, and titles. “Sir,” “Ma,” “Aunty,” “Uncle,” and surnames are default in many homes, schools, and workplaces.
But that norm is colliding with a more global corporate culture, especially in tech, finance, and media, where first-name basis is standard even with CEOs.
For younger Nigerians who studied abroad or work in multinational companies, calling a boss by their first name is not seen as disrespect. For older executives and many in traditional settings, it can feel like a boundary has been crossed
At Stanford, Elumelu was a guest speaker in an American academic environment where first-name culture is the default. At UBA, he was chairman at an internal company event in Nigeria, where hierarchy is more pronounced.
What made Bello’s clip resonate is that she wasn’t talking about celebrities or billionaires. She was talking about everyday interactions.
Her frustration with “Hii” instead of “Good afternoon, ma’am” reflects a feeling many older Nigerians have: that basic courtesies are fading.
She also made a point that complicates the conversation: respect cuts both ways.
“There are rude adults out there as well,” she said — an acknowledgment that age alone doesn’t guarantee good behavior.
The Elumelu and Bello moments have become shorthand for a larger generational negotiation happening in Nigeria right now.
In workplaces, many companies are trying to balance global best practices with local culture. Some adopt first-name policies to encourage openness. Others keep titles to maintain order and respect.
For young professionals, the safest advice remains: read the room. In a Nigerian bank, with the chairman, “Mr Elumelu” is probably wise. In a Silicon Valley-style startup, “Tony” might be normal.
But beyond offices, Bello’s message touches homes and streets. It’s a call to remember greetings, to use “ma’am” and “sir,” and to understand that language carries culture.
Shaffy Bello’s resurfaced comments didn’t create the debate. Tony Elumelu’s viral correction did. But together, they show how one question keeps resurfacing in Nigeria: How do we show respect in 2026
