An old video of a Stanford Graduate School of Business student greeting Nigerian businessman Tony Elumelu by first name has resurfaced online, eliciting new comments amid the continuing debate about his recent meeting with a UBA trainee.
The 2022 clip has sparked interest after a recent incident in which a UBA Graduate Management Accelerated Program (GMAP) trainee reportedly greeted Elumelu with, “Good morning, Tony,” during a graduation ceremony in Lagos.
The unearthed video was purportedly captured during a fireside chat at Stanford Graduate School of Business as part of the school’s “View From The Top” speaker series.
During the session, student interviewer Chisom Obi-Okoye said, “Hi Tony,” before beginning the interview.
The casual exchange looked to be compatible with the first-name culture prevalent in many Western academic and professional environments.
The old tape reappeared online on August 21, 2026, shortly after Elumelu’s encounter with a UBA trainee went viral.
In a recent occasion, the trainee reportedly addressed him as “Tony,” leading him to correct her and request that she address him as “Mr. Elumelu.”
Elumelu allegedly stated that he did not follow what he characterised as the “Oyibo” practice of addressing individuals by first names.
The incident sparked an internet debate, with Nigerians expressing their differing views on cultural respect, job hierarchy, and the use of first names.
Awuzie Frankline, a Facebook user, published the old Stanford video while criticising what he saw as an inconsistency in how Nigerians apply cultural values in various circumstances.
While agreeing that the trainee should have demonstrated greater cultural awareness, Frankline contended that how she was disciplined was equally essential.
“Yes, culturally, the young lady could have shown more respect. But correction doesn’t have to become humiliation,” he wrote.
He also questioned why some Nigerians quickly adopt informal Western behaviours while abroad or in international settings but maintain rigid traditional hierarchies at home.
“Respect should be consistent not dependent on someone’s status, location or social class,” he added.
The resurrected clip has sparked fresh debate online, with social media users split on whether the Stanford event should be compared to the UBA graduation interaction.
While some people stated that the two cases demonstrated differing norms for addressing senior figures, others pointed out that the settings were distinct.