Human rights activist and African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore has condemned the widespread public backlash against a young United Bank for Africa (UBA) staff member who faced intense criticism after addressing the bank’s Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, by his first name.
Sowore also demanded that UBA immediately provide the woman with appropriate psychosocial support, warning that no young employee or trainee should be left alone to absorb the psychological consequences of becoming the target of massive public ridicule and attacks.
The activist made the comments in a Facebook post on Saturday, following contact from a senior management official of UBA Group over his earlier views on the treatment of the woman, who is a participant in the bank’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP).
The controversy stemmed from a viral video recorded during the GMAP graduation ceremony, in which the young trainee greeted Elumelu with “Good morning, Tony.” Elumelu corrected her, stating that she should address him as “Mr Elumelu” or “TOE,” adding that he does not subscribe to what he described as “oyinbo life.”
Since the video went viral, the woman has been subjected to significant public opprobrium, ridicule, and online attacks.
Reacting to the backlash, Sowore rejected the framing of the incident as a mere “culture clash” between African and Western norms. He described it instead as “a class war” a reflection of entrenched hierarchy and class consciousness that determines who is entitled to demand deference and who is expected to provide it.
“I made it clear that, in my view, this was not a ‘culture clash’; it was a class war, a reflection of the deeply entrenched hierarchy and class consciousness that too often determines who is considered entitled to demand deference and who is expected to provide it,” Sowore stated.
He illustrated the point by noting that if Elumelu’s son or daughter addressed a family gateman or driver by first name, few Nigerians would object. Many of those criticising the young woman, he argued, would likely expect the gateman or driver to show exaggerated deference to Elumelu’s children.
“That tells you immediately that this argument is not really about ‘African culture’ or respect. It is about class, status, wealth and power,” he said.
Sowore emphasised that his primary concern remains the welfare of the young woman.
“More importantly, I specifically requested that, given the enormous public opprobrium, ridicule, and attacks this young woman has been subjected to, UBA must immediately provide her with appropriate psychosocial support.
“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.
“She should not be sacrificed on the altar of corporate hierarchy or social-media outrage. Her dignity, welfare and mental well-being must come first.”
The incident has ignited a broader national conversation on workplace etiquette, respect for senior executives, and the practice of first-name address in Nigerian corporate environments.