22/08/2026
Knowing When to Switch Cultures
The recent incident involving Tony Elumelu correcting a lady who addressed him by his first name in Nigeria has generated quite a bit of conversation. Some people see nothing wrong with calling someone by their first name, especially if they have lived or worked in Western countries. But this is where cultural differences matter.
In many Western societies, calling a professor, boss, elderly person, or even a highly accomplished individual by their first name is perfectly normal. It can be a sign of equality, friendliness and informality—not necessarily disrespect.
Nigeria, however, has a different cultural framework. We traditionally place a lot of importance on age, titles, status and hierarchy. Words like Sir, Ma, Chief, Doctor, Professor, Chairman and Uncle can communicate respect and social awareness.
I have experienced this personally.
I once called my university professor “Sir” while studying abroad. He is a man in his 70s, highly respected and much older than me. Instead of accepting the title, he corrected me and said, “I’m not a sir. Just call me by my first name.”
At first, coming from a Nigerian background, it felt strange. Here was a man old enough to be my grandfather, my professor, and someone I deeply respected—and he was telling me not to call him “Sir.”
But I understood something important: I was in his cultural environment.
When I’m in the West, I understand that calling someone by their first name does not automatically mean I’m disrespecting them. When I’m in Nigeria, I also understand that addressing an older person or someone of significant status by their first name may be perceived very differently.
This is why I believe we need more cultural intelligence.
You don’t have to abandon your identity or forget where you come from. But when you enter another cultural environment, you should learn how things work there. And when you return home, you should also understand that the cultural rules may be different.
Knowing when to switch cultural codes is not hypocrisy. It is wisdom, adaptability and respect.
The same behaviour can be respectful in one culture and disrespectful in another.
So, whether you’re in Lagos, London, New York or anywhere else in the world, learn to read the room.
Respect the person. Understand the culture. Know when to switch.
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