PETER GODLOVE BABILA (P.G.B.) TITA
BIOGRAPHY
Mr. Peter Godlove Babila (P.G.B.) Tita was born on the 6th of February 1936 to Mr. Johannes Tita Yumjoh and Ms. Lydia Jene. He attended the Presbyterian Primary School, Fiango, Kumba, Cameroon. He joined his cousin, the late Honourable Ba S.P.D. Tita, in Enugu, Nigeria where he completed secondary school education at St. George’s Commercial College. Upon graduation, he launched his working career as secretary, first to the branch manager and later the district manager of the United Africa Company (U.A.C.) of Nigeria Ltd from 1956 to 1961 when he returned to Cameroon, as manager for U.A.C, first in Bamenda, then Banso and Nkambe in the same capacity.
In 1961, he was appointed branch Sales Manager for the Cameroon Import- Export Commercial Corporation Ltd (C.C.C). He worked first in Nkambe and it was here that he met and married Ms. Agnes Tifu. He was then transferred to Victoria (Limbe) Cameroon, a position he held from 1961 to 1968. He moved on to become one of the first African-born Branch Sales Managers for French-owned brewing company, Brasseries Du Cameroun. He worked in that capacity in Ombe, Kumba and finally Bamenda until 1975. He left Brasseries Du Cameroun and worked briefly with U.C.B. Cameroon brewery before embarking on an outstanding journey with British-owned company, Guinness Cameroun, where he would enjoy a meteoric rise and ultimately spend the rest of a very robust working and semi-retired life.
Guinness was definitely a big part of PGB’s career and achievements. His journey with Guinness commenced in 1975 and within 5 years he was quickly promoted from Branch Manager in Limbe to Area Sales Manager for the entire S.W. province of Cameroon. While in Limbe, he married Ms. Rose Enanga.
Despite a very busy work schedule, his thirst for higher heights motivated him to further his education and training through diploma courses in Field Sales management and Management development programs at the Ashbridge Management College of Berkhamstead in Hertfordshire, England, in 1980 and 1992 respectively. These fortified his ability to take on numerous senior management roles with Guinness Cameroun S.A.:
- Field Sales Manager (1981-1988) in-charge of the Western and N.W. Provinces of Cameroon where he successfully mentored many young aspiring managers.
- National Field Controller/Deputy General Sales Manager for Guinness Cameroon S.A.(1988-1991)
- National Sales Service Controller/Deputy Director of Sales for Guinness Cameroun S.A (1991)
Prior to his appointment as Sales Service Controller and Deputy Director of Sales, he had already been shortlisted by the African Region of Guinness Brewing worldwide, Park Royal Brewery, as the top candidate to work in London as a Market Development Executive for key operations in East and South Africa. He was the first African-born executive to serve in that international capacity for Guinness. The job involved a high degree of travel, working in several countries with different brewing partners from 1991 to 1995.
He retired from active service in London in December 1995. On his return to Cameroon, he started his own distribution company called Jene Enterprise with branches in Mamfe and Eyumojock, Cameroon with distributors extending across the border into Nigeria. In 2011, he made a conscious but difficult decision to stop all lines of business due to ill-health.
PGBT was highly committed to his family. His children are: Ms. Grace Navoma Tita (Bamenda, Cameroon), Mrs. Victoria (Queen) Tita Bouchon (Madrid, Spain), Mr. Edwin Sama Tita (Houston, USA), Dr. Alan Thevenet Njei Tita (Birmingham, USA), Mrs. Augusta Kuna Tita Epie (Dublin, Ireland), Mrs. Valerie Tomedi Tita Mgbatogu (Toronto, Canada), Mr. Johnstone Sabum Tita (Montreal, Canada) and Ms. Karen Jene Tita (Kumba, Cameroon).
His grandchildren: Stella Tita, Eric Tita, Julien Rault, Wendy Rault, Kelly Mgbatogu, Kelvin Mgbatogu, Peter Godlove Babila Tita (PGBT, II) Alexis Tita, Khantyla Tita, Alicia Epie, Alana Epie, Rose Tita(2nd);
And one great grandson: McTevin Edmond Yumjoh.
Two surviving brothers: Ni Daniel Tita and Ni Isaiah Tita
Four surviving sisters: Ma Manyi, Ma Mary Ndangoh, Ma Magdalene Tita and Ma Susan Tita.
And now he rests in a peaceful place and greatly missed!