Elumelu and the ‘Tony’ girl: The world of English honorifics (1)
August 25, 2026 12:05 am
By Akeem Lasisi
The recent encounter between a graduate trainee and popular businessman, Mr Tony Elumelu, drew our attention back to honorifics. In English, honorifics are titles used before a person’s name to show respect, courtesy, or status. Although English may not boast as many honorific expressions and gestures as the typical African language does — like Yoruba, which has a different personal pronoun, ‘e’ (you), for elders as opposed to ‘o’ for young people — it surely has enough to show courtesy.
The young lady had addressed the Chairman of Heirs Holdings by his first name when she wanted to ask a question during a Graduate Management Accelerated Programme grad ceremony organised by UBA, a bank where he was the Chairman until a few days ago. The man saw everything wrong with the lady’s utterance. He thus gently but emphatically corrected her, saying she ought to call him either Mr Elumelu, TOE, or Chairman. This indicates that he had actually started teaching honorifics on the spot. No wonder the matter, now viral, has helped many people and organisations revisit the significance of cultural-cum-moral values in the educational upbringing of the young.
Interestingly, Elumelu noted that he did not subscribe to the ‘Oyinbo culture’ that inspired the kind of flat attitude the lady was trying to showcase. It is, however, also interesting that English has a place for honorifics and linguistic/grammatical courtesy, as we shall discuss (not discuss about!) here.
Honorifics in categories
Honorifics can be grouped into three categories: standard personal honorifics; professional and academic; and those for the clergy, military, and traditional rulers. There can be some other ones in-between, but the above cut across geographies and social classes.
Sir, Ma
Usually harmless and generally acceptable, ‘Sir/sir’ is used independently to address an adult man respectfully. It commands courtesy and has the capacity to secure the subject’s attention. You should, of course, remember that it is very useful in formal letters. One is thus not surprised that it is one of the terms that Elumelu recommended for our dear friend. The idea is: ‘Call me ‘Sir’, not ‘Tony’.’
Meanwhile, you must have noticed that I have been freely repeating ‘Elumelu’ in this article. Is it an affront? Will our billionaire friend reject being addressed so? No. In academic and media writing, you are permitted to mention a person’s surname after you have initially established the title and the full name.
Again, note that dignitaries or superstars are often addressed by their surnames – or epithets/nicknames. That is why Trump, Tinubu, Aliko, Soyinka, and KSA are on the lips of everyone. Yet, this depends on the context. In official situations when they are present, as Elumelu was, right as the most important dignitary, the manner of address would be different. Besides, it is odd to address them by their first names. Will you, for instance, first say ‘Bola’ if you are to ask President Bola Tinubu a question at an event where he is present?
Madam/Ma’am
This is used independently to address an adult woman respectfully. So, this is what you would call a businesswoman like Mrs Folorunsho Alakija or the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs Jumoke Oduwole, if she were in Elumelu’s position that day. Imagine greeting Alakija ‘Good morning, Folorunsho’ or addressing Oduwole as ‘Jummy’ before asking her the question. Yoruba woman that she is, she could go as far as asking you: ‘Se o sanwó orúko mi ni?’ or ‘Se o s’owó s’ómi lójó tí won ń so mí l’órúko ni?’, meaning: ‘Did you donate money at my naming ceremony?’ That, indeed, is the query the Yoruba culture asks whoever is so disrespectful.
We should also recognise the fact that Elumelu was generous with the options he gave the girl. The ‘Chairman’ option remains formal, and it is one you can adopt once you know the person’s designation. So, in the case of an Alhaji Aliko Dangote, he could be addressed as ‘President’, being the President and CEO of Dangote Group, and Oduwole as ‘Honourable Minister’. Concerning the ‘TOE’ option, it is a fond name many people in his position will not reject — the way Tinubu is likely to embrace Asiwaju or Jagaban and the way Soyinka may not frown upon (not frown at!) being called Kongi. Yet, when in doubt, stick to what is sure – like ‘Prof.’ for the latter.
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