Photo Credit: IG | tokemakinwa / Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch on X) – as credited in original report
Mo Abudu Backs Formal Address in Workplace, Says She Won’t Accept First-Name Greeting From Younger People

Media entrepreneur and EbonyLife Group CEO, Mo Abudu, has weighed in on the ongoing debate about respect and etiquette in Nigerian workplaces, stating that she does not accept being casually addressed by her first name, especially by younger people.

Speaking on Toke Moments with Toke Makinwa, Abudu said her position stems from her traditional upbringing in Ondo State where she was raised by her grandmother.

“I am very traditional. I was brought up in Ondo by my grandmother. You can’t be calling me by my first name anyhow. I won’t take it!” she said.

When asked if she preferred to be addressed as “Aunty,” she maintained that casual first-name address from younger people was not something she was willing to accept.

Her comments come weeks after a similar incident involving UBA Group Chairman Tony Elumelu went viral. At the graduation ceremony for UBA’s Graduate Management Accelerated Programme, Elumelu corrected a trainee who had greeted him simply as “Tony,” prompting the trainee to quickly adjust to “Good morning, Mr Elumelu.” The video split public opinion between those defending traditional respect and those calling for a more relaxed, modern corporate culture.

Abudu’s stance places her firmly on the side that believes titles and formal address remain important markers of respect, despite the shift toward informality in many workplaces.

Beyond the naming debate, the media mogul also addressed gender bias in business. She pushed back against being described as a “shark” in industry circles, arguing that the label would likely not be used for a man exhibiting the same traits, and that successful women are often judged differently.

Abudu, founder of EbonyLife Media, is set to expand the brand internationally with a new EbonyLife Place location scheduled to open in London in October.
Source: Pulse Nigeria