A young UBA graduate trainee who went viral after addressing the bank’s chairman, Tony Elumelu, by his first name is set to receive ₦500,000 in financial support and an ambassadorial role following the controversy.

The incident occurred during the graduation ceremony of UBA’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme, where the trainee greeted Elumelu with “Good morning, Tony.” Elumelu immediately corrected her, asking to be addressed as “Mr Elumelu,” “TOE,” or “Chairman.”

The video quickly went viral and sparked mixed reactions online, with some Nigerians criticising the young woman for disregarding corporate protocol, while others argued that calling senior colleagues by their first names is common in many modern workplaces.

Reacting to the backlash, Ossai Ovie Success, Senior Special Assistant on Media to Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, offered the graduate ₦500,000 in financial support and an ambassadorial role for the Delta Social Media Summit.

The package also includes flight tickets to Asaba, five-star hotel accommodation, VIP access to the summit and a guided tour of development projects in Delta State. Ossai said the young woman should not be subjected to continuous online attacks, stressing that the internet can be harsh and that people should show compassion even when someone makes a mistake.

He also offered her a platform to share her side of the story, saying the aim was to “turn this pain into purpose.”