RismadarVoice Reporters, August 21, 2026
Nollywood actress Shaffy Bello has weighed in on the ongoing debate over respect and the practice of younger people addressing older persons by their first names.
Bello’s comments followed the viral exchange between the Chairman of United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu, and a young woman who addressed him simply as “Tony” during a recent event.
Elumelu had corrected the woman, asking her to address him as “Mr Elumelu” or “TOE,” a development that sparked widespread discussions about age, culture, respect and changing social norms.
Speaking during a recent podcast, Bello said she also expects younger people to use appropriate titles when addressing older persons.
The actress said she does not appreciate being addressed simply as “Shaffy” by people significantly younger than her.
“When a child calls me by my name, Shaffy, I pull them closer and tell them, ‘You haven’t earned the right, and you never will,’” she said.
Bello explained that the practice is particularly uncomfortable for her because some of those who address her by her first name are around the same age as her children.
“I have a child as old as you are, and even if I do not have children, you have not earned the right, and you will never earn the right at your age to call me by name,” she added.
According to the actress, the issue goes beyond first names, stressing that traditional forms of respect, including the use of titles such as “Ma’am,” should not be abandoned.
“Whatever happened to Ma’am?” Bello asked.
She also expressed her dislike for the increasingly common casual greeting, “Hi.”
“There is even something about this ‘Hi’; I can’t stand it,” she said.
Bello attributed differences in how younger people address older persons partly to upbringing and cultural background, noting that practices vary across different parts of Nigeria and the United States.
She maintained that respect for elders remains important even in the United States, saying children there also use respectful titles when addressing older people.
“Even children in the U.S. call me ‘Ma,’” she said.
The actress, however, acknowledged that upbringing and cultural differences may influence how younger people interact with older adults.
She said she prefers to correct younger people who address her casually with love rather than respond harshly.
