Amanze Chinonye
African Action Congress presidential candidate and human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has urged United Bank for Africa (UBA) to provide psychosocial support to a trainee who faced public backlash after addressing the bank’s chairman, Tony Elumelu, by his first name, Prime Business Africa reports.
Sowore said in a Facebook post on Saturday that a senior UBA management official had contacted him to discuss the treatment of the woman, who is enrolled in the bank’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP).
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The controversy followed the circulation of a video showing Elumelu correcting the trainee after she addressed him as “Tony” during an interaction. Elumelu later said he did not subscribe to what he called “oyinbo life” and stressed the importance of respect in African culture.
Sowore rejected the description of the incident as a clash between African and Western cultures, calling it instead “a class war” rooted in social hierarchy and class consciousness.
He argued that expectations of deference often depend on wealth and social status, saying the reaction might have been different if Elumelu’s son or daughter addressed a family driver or gateman by his first name.
“That tells you immediately that this argument is not really about ‘African culture’ or respect. It is about class, status, wealth and power,” Sowore said.
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Sowore said his primary concern was the treatment of the trainee, who he said had faced widespread ridicule and attacks after the incident attracted public attention.
He urged UBA to provide her with appropriate psychosocial support, saying no young employee or trainee should be left to deal alone with the psychological consequences of becoming the focus of a major public controversy.
“Whatever anyone thinks about how she addressed Tony Elumelu, no young employee or trainee should be left alone to absorb the psychological consequences of suddenly becoming the target of a massive public controversy,” he said.
Sowore said the trainee should not be “sacrificed on the altar of corporate hierarchy or social-media outrage”, adding that her dignity, welfare and mental well-being should take priority.
The controversy has prompted wider debate in Nigeria over workplace etiquette, hierarchical relationships and expectations surrounding how employees address senior executives.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
