An old video featuring billionaire businessman and United Bank for Africa (UBA) Group Chairman Tony Elumelu during a session at the Stanford Graduate School of Business in the United States has resurfaced online, triggering fresh debate across social media platforms.

In the throwback clip, Elumelu is seen getting seated for an interview when the host addressed him simply by his first name, "Tony," without formal titles like "Mr." or "Chairman."

Elumelu made no effort to correct the host the Stanford session, embracing the relaxed atmosphere of the American institution.

The resurfaced footage gained rapid traction online, coming just hours after a viral incident where Elumelu publicly corrected a Nigerian graduate trainee for calling him "Tony" during a corporate ceremony in Lagos, stating at the time that he did not "subscribe to that kind of Oyinbo life."

Netizens quickly pointed out the stark contrast between his stance abroad and his preferences in Nigeria.

Some commentators argued that accepting first-name addresses at foreign universities while rejecting them from young Nigerian employees reflects an inconsistent approach to corporate culture.

Others came to his defense, emphasizing that local cultural expectations and corporate hierarchy in Nigeria naturally demand formal respect, whereas Western institutions like Stanford operate on a flatter, more informal structure.

Netizens react as old interview of Tony Elumelu at Stanford Graduate School of Business, USA resurfaces online pic.twitter.com/clpt9jHZy2

— Instablog9ja (@instablog9ja) August 21, 2026