For rare managerial savvy: PAMOL GM voted Most Resilient & Innovative General Manager of The Year.

The ceremony was chaired by seasoned administrator and traditional ruler, Chief Fritzgerald Nasako. Over 18,000, among The Guardian Post millions of readers voted Mbile Tapea Solomon for the award.

According to the award jury, Mbile Tapea won among other nominees for “demonstration of rare management savvy and fearless efforts in reviving PAMOL Plantations PLC, despite daunting security and financial challenges”. 

While unveiling the award, the Secretary of the jury, Theodore Mih Ndze, who doubles as Co-Publisher of The Voice newspaper, disclosed that majority voters argued that Mbile has been able to steer PAMOL and make it functional, despite the fact that the company is hard-hit by the crisis in the two English-speaking Regions.                                                           

"Despite the crisis, the workers of PAMOL Plantations PLC, smallholders and transporters have hailed the management of the company for regular salary payment and clearing of arrears," Mih Ndze stated.

The award was handed to the laureate by Barrister Akere Muna, who emerged as Cameroon's 2023 Man of The Year.

Barrister Akere Muna noted that the dynamic manager has been outstanding in his performances, urging him to keep on doing the marvelous job he is doing at PAMOL. 

Dedicates award to PAMOL workers

Reacting after receiving the award, the PAMOL General Manager, Mbile Tapea Solomon, said he didn’t know people were taking note of the work he and his collaborators have been doing.

Meanwhile, Mbile dedicated the award to workers of PAMOL Plantations PLC. 

"I want to dedicate this award to the workers of PAMOL... because they are the people who are working so hard and remain resilient, despite challenges,” the General Manager said. 

He added that the company is picking up gradually as there has been a great improvement. The General Manager announced the extension of plantations to other areas, including the Bakassi area. 

PAMOL workers hail GM

It should be noted that the dexterous management shrewdness of Mbile Tapea, buoyed by those of his collaborators, has been receiving accolades from across the board, notwithstanding the numerous challenges occasioned by the ongoing crisis rocking the North West and South West Regions.

The workaholic General Manager has constantly been on the field. Recently, he descended to the field to meet workers and partners.

During the visit, the President of Workers Union in Mundemba, Obie Collins, heaped praises on the General Manager for keeping the company going.                                                          “Permit me begin by appreciating you and your team for the wonderful efforts you are putting in to bring smiles on the faces of the workers and the entire population of Mundemba,” Obie had said.

He went further to say: We are happy with the regular payment of salaries, regular payment of smallholders’ proceeds, provision of contract medical officer for Ndian Estate Hospital, your constant supply of drugs at the pharmacy, reclassification of some staff, payment of accumulated annual leave, just to name a few”.

Addressing the workers at the Ndian Estate Office, the General Manager had lauded their resilience. He reassured them of management’s obligation for their welfare and regular meetings with them "because you are the backbone of the company”. 

“We are together as a family like we are here today, workers are the number one priority of management. Without you, we can’t be here. As business people, we have to set a target with our budget,” Mbile had explained to the workers.

He continued that since the advent of the crisis, which put the company on its knees, there has been impressive improvement and progression on tonnage of crops up to 2023. He encouraged the workers to continue to put in their best so that 2024 can witness a higher production level.

“Management has the determination and will to accompany you to hit the target. That is how we shall move progressively year after year until we are near the pre-crisis period,” Mbile added.

The meeting with workers was preceded by that with smallholders and transporters of Mundemba and Ekondo-Titi. 

During the meeting, the General Manager encouraged partners to sell their crops to the company and discouraged oil trafficking.

Mbile reassured them that the problems raised, such as arrears and the poor road infrastructure to evacuate their crops, shall be handled. 

He announced to the smallholders that their arrears were ready for payments and that the price per ton of crop has increased from fifty to sixty francs per kilogram; that is from fifty to sixty thousands per ton.

Responding to the announcement of the General Manager, the president of smallholders of Mundemba and Ekondo-Titi Meboka, Samuel and Bate Ndip, reassured management that they will supply more crops as their main problem, which was the arrears owed even before the crisis, have been cleared.