Nollywood actress Shaffy Bello has opened up about her views on how younger people should address older adults, saying she expects to be treated with respect rather than being called by her first name.
Her comments come amid the recent viral exchange involving UBA Chairman Tony Elumelu and a young woman who addressed him as “Tony” at an event. Elumelu corrected her and asked to be addressed as “Mr Elumelu” or “TOE”, sparking discussions about age, respect and how elders should be addressed.
Speaking on a recent podcast, Bello said she does not appreciate being called simply “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.’”
‘You Have Not Earned the Right’
Bello explained that the issue is particularly significant to her because she has children who are around the same age as some of the younger people who address her by her first name.
“I have a child as old as you are.”
She said that regardless of whether she has children or not, she believes younger people should maintain a level of respect when addressing older adults.
For Bello, the matter goes beyond being called by someone’s first name. She questioned the declining use of traditional respectful titles such as “Ma’am.”
“Whatever happened to Ma’am?”
‘I Can’t Stand “Hi”’
The actress also revealed that she finds the casual greeting “Hi” irritating when used by younger people addressing her.
“There is even something about this ‘Hi’; I can’t stand it.”
Bello attributed differences in how younger and older people interact to upbringing and culture, noting that practices vary across Nigeria and other countries.
She pointed to the United States, saying that even children there use respectful titles when addressing older people.
“Even children in the U.S. call me ‘Ma.’”
Bello had previously said that when younger people greet her with “Hi Shaffy,” she understands that their upbringing and cultural background may influence their behaviour.
However, she said she prefers to correct them with love rather than respond harshly.
Source: Shaffy Bello
