{
  "id": 2341237,
  "title": "Call me TOE or Mr Elumelu: Viral video sparks debate over workplace first-name culture",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/call-me-toe-or-mr-elumelu-viral-video-sparks-debate-over-workplace",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-21T08:54:48.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/call-me-toe-or-mr-elumelu-viral-video-sparks-debate-over-workplace-first-name-culture/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A viral video featuring a young executive trainee greeting United Bank for Africa Group Chairman Tony Elumelu by his first name has sparked debate over workplace culture and the use of first names in Nigerian offices. During a graduation ceremony for UBA's Graduate Management Accelerated Programme, the trainee called Elumelu \"Tony\" during an interactive session, to which he initially misheard her and asked \"Toyin?\" before she clarified her name. Elumelu then corrected her, insisting she address him as \"Mr Elumelu\" or \"TOE\" instead of his first name. Since the video went viral, the conversation has continued among corporate workers and Nigerians about the appropriateness of first-name policies in the workplace. Some argue that first-name policies should apply across all levels of an organization, while others believe employees should defer to senior executives based on age, rank, and setting. The debate also extends to the cultural expectations of Nigerian workplaces, with some users questioning the inconsistency in how first names are used.",
  "summary": "A viral video of Tony Elumelu correcting a trainee’s “Good morning, Tony” sparks debate on workplace first names in Nigeria. Explore the cultural clash. Read More: https://punchng.com/call-me-toe-or-mr-elumelu-viral-video-sparks-debate-over-workplace-first-name-culture/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Call me TOE or Mr Elumelu: Viral video sparks debate over workplace first-name culture",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/call-me-toe-or-mr-elumelu-viral-video-sparks-debate-over-workplace-2342900",
        "published": "2026-08-21T09:08:48.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}