‘Good Morning, Tony’: Why Reading the Room Still Matters in Nigerian Workplaces

“Good morning, Tony” became the centre of a wider debate after Tony Elumelu corrected a young woman at a graduation event, saying he preferred to be addressed as Mr Elumelu, TOE or Chairman. The viral moment has reopened conversations about respect, hierarchy, corporate culture and generational differences. I understand both sides. I have worked in telecoms and financial services settings where first names were common, yet addressing older colleagues or senior managers by their names alone still felt unnatural. In many Nigerian workplaces, titles such as Sir, Ma, Oga, Chairman or Auntie reflect more than rank. They reflect age, culture and context. There is nothing wrong with approachable leaders or informal office cultures. But approachability should not be mistaken for automatic familiarity. My rule is to begin respectfully and adjust if invited. It is easier to move from “Sir” to a first name than to be corrected after assuming closeness. The lesson is simple: read the room. Observe how people address one another, recognise the setting and respect a person’s preferred form of address. Confidence and professionalism can exist alongside cultural intelligence.

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