By Ihechi Enyinnaya
A legal practitioner, Dr Benson Enikuomehin, has commended businessman and philanthropist Tony Elumelu for the manner in which he handled a recent incident involving a young woman who addressed him by his first name.
Enikuomehin, in a statement dated August 24, 2026, said the incident highlighted the need for younger Nigerians to learn and preserve traditional values of respect and proper conduct toward elders.
He urged the younger generation to learn from elders how to relate with them appropriately in public and private settings, while also warning against the wholesale adoption of aspects of European culture that may not fit Nigeria’s social environment.
According to him, young Nigerians should also read books on etiquette and understand the limits of modernism, particularly where contemporary practices conflict with African and Nigerian values.
Enikuomehin noted that Elumelu, who was born in 1963, is considerably older than the young woman involved in the incident.
He argued that addressing an elder of Elumelu’s age simply by his first name was alien to traditional Nigerian culture.
“At my age, I will not call Mr Tony Elumelu by his first name. I will give him the respect of his age, position in the organisation and his contributions to uplifting the younger generation,” he said.
The lawyer, however, praised Elumelu for his response to the incident and his subsequent decision to reach out to the young woman.
He described Elumelu’s actions as “commendable,” saying they reflected his character and presented him as a role model in contemporary society.
Enikuomehin also called on the young woman to publicly apologise for what he described as misconduct, cautioning against presenting the incident as an example for young Nigerians to emulate.
He further appealed to parents and guardians to promote civility and proper upbringing among young people.
The lawyer described Elumelu as a person worthy of respect and honour, saying the businessman had demonstrated “character, learning and administration” through the way he handled the situation.
“Kudos to you, Sir,” Enikuomehin said.