Director General Of AXA Group, Thomas Buberl, Made Honorary Citizen Of Douala, Sawa Notable And Ambassador

The Director General says AXA is determined to continue to contribute to the socio – economic development of Cameroon.

In a double and colourful ceremony that took place in   Cameroon’s economic capital, Douala, on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, the Director General of AXA Group, THOMAS BUBERL, who was on a working visit to the country, was handed the symbolic key to the city as an honorary citizen, by the Douala City Council. He was also initiated by Ngondo as a high ranking notable and Ambassador of the Sawa land.  Worth noting, that Ngondo is the highest traditional institution in the Sawa Land in Cameroon.

It should as well as be noted that the visiting Director General of AXA Group, Thomas Buberl, in show of goodwill, dedicated the first part of that blessed day of October 2, 2024, in Douala, to meet local administrative, municipal and traditional authorities. He kicked off the day with a courtesy call on the Governor of the Littoral Region, Samuel Dieudonne Ivaha Diboua, at his office in the administrative centre, Bonanjo

From the Governor’s Office at Bonanjo the Director General of the AXA Group moved down to the  Ngondo Headquarters known as the Palace of Sawa Culture (‘Palais de la Culture Sawa’), located close to the ceremonial ground at Besseke, for the double ceremony. There, the rich Sawa culture was on display through beautiful traditional dances and other activities.

Key Of The Douala City

The first part of the double event at the Palace of Sawa Culture was a formal welcome of the visiting Director General of AXA Group, Thomas Buberl, by the Douala City Mayor, Dr Roger Mbassa Ndine, on behalf of the population of Douala which is in millions. The Douala City Mayor in the course of his welcome address, solemnly presented the symbolic key of the city, to the Director General of the AXA Group, Thomas Buberl, It was a mark of the hospitality as well as the appreciation of the Douala population towards the august guest. “Mr Director General, you are now an honorary citizen of Douala” the Douala City Mayor told Thomas Buberl.

Dr Mbassa Ndine asserted that the city of Douala was proud to have the reputable insurance company, AXA, as a partner of development, adding that as  a citizen of  the city, Thomas Buberl now have the responsibility to promote and defend the interest of the city across the world. The Douala City Mayor noted with great appreciation and admiration, that Thomas Buberl is a super scale manager, and a man of high moral rectitude, reputed for his integrity.

New Sawa Notable And Ambassador

The second ceremony that followed immediately was a reception of the visiting Director General of AXA Group, Thomas Buberl, by Sawa Chiefs led by the current President of Ngondo, HRM Paul Milord Mbappe Bwanga.  In his welcome address, the President of Ngondo among other things said the Sawa Chiefs were happy to receive the Director General of AXA Group on behalf of the Sawa people. “We expressed the deep appreciation of the Sawa people for the constant support that your company, AXA, has been giving to the community”, the Ngondo President stated.

The major highlight of the ceremony was the initiation of the Director General of AXA Group, Thomas Buberl, into Ngondo, the highest traditional institution of the Sawa land, as a Sawa notable.  That part of the ceremony took place inside a traditional house of Ngondo, which was of course not opened to the public. The ceremony was performed by the Ngondo President and nine Sawa notables.  Thomas Buberl emerged from the traditional hose dressed in the Sawa traditional loin known as Sandja, to the standing ovation of the excited crowd.  He was then handed the traditional equipment used to paddle a local boat (canoe), and declared the Notable of Water. “You are now our son. You are from today a NOTABLE of the WATER. Make good use of the high ranking traditional title. We are behind you”, the President of Ngondo told the new Sawa notable, Thomas Buberl. As a high ranking Sawa notable, and a man of high integrity, Ngondo also designated Thomas Buberl as a Sawa Ambassador across the world.

Sawa People And Water  

Meanwhile talking about the high ranking traditional title of Notable of Water given to the Director General of AXA Group, Thomas Buberl, it should be noted that the Sawa people are known as the people of water. This is due to the fact that there are quite a number of big rivers that run across Sawa land. These include River Wouri, River Mungo, the Dibamba River, Sanaga River, among other.  But above all, a long stretch of part of Sawa Land is at the banks of the Atlantic Ocean.  A canoe is thus one of the major means of transportation in the Sawa land, and a boat is thus of great significance to the Sawa People’s culture and tradition.

  “I Will Take Very Serious, What Has Been Done To Me In Douala”

Meanwhile in a speech at the joint ceremony, the Director General of AXA Group, Thomas Buberl, thanked the authorities of the Douala City Council for the warm reception accorded him, as well as for the distinction accorded him by making him an honorary citizen of the Douala City. He said he humbly felt honoured by the distinction.

Buberl was also grateful to the Sawa Chiefs for making him a  Sawa notable  as well as a Sawa Ambassador. He said he was aware of the high mark of recognition, and the responsibility that goes with it.  He whole heartedly accepted to be the ambassador of Sawa and Douala, in his double capacity as Sawa notable and a citizen of the Douala City. He said he took the double distinctions bestowed on him in Douala on that blessed day, very serious.

  The Presence Of AXA in Cameroon, Is A Long Term Engagement

The Director General of the AXA Group, Thomas Buterl, stressed the importance of the presence of AXA in Cameroon, noting that the company is Cameroon’s partner in socio-economic development. “Our presence in Cameroon is a long term engagement, and we are determined to continue to contribute to the socio –economic development of the country. AXA has been accompanying development in Cameroon. We are there to accompany, we are there to help, we are there to protect. We are proud of our partnership with Cameroon, and we are determined to continue to support the development of the country”, the Director General of AXA Group, Thomas Buberl, assured.

 AXA To Accompany Douala City Council in Multi Billion Francs Project

As aforementioned, AXA is the partner of the Cameroon in funding development or structural projects. AXA subscribes to the public bond sales by the Cameroon, meant to raise funds to finance development or structural projects in the country. AXA is also to accompany the Douala City Council in a multi- billion francs modern public transport project (BRT) in Douaala.

The giant I the insurance sector in Cameroon, AXA, have also been respecting its corporate social responsibility as a citizen friendly company, by funding many socio –economic and socio – cultural projects. AXA for example will be the official sponsor of Ngondo 2024. It is the grand annual Sawa cultural festival organized by Ngondo, the highest traditional institution in the Sawa land, in the month of December. That is why the cultural festival is called, Ngondo.

AXA Group

Worthy of note, that, the AXA Group was in 2023 present in a total of 51 countries. The AXA Group has a total of over 94 million customers, that is, persons who have taken different insurance policies. The AXA Group also has a total of over 114,000 collaborators or employees. As aforementioned, AXA is a giant in the Cameroon insurance sector.

The Administrator – Director General Of AXA Group, Thomas Buberl

The Administrator – Director General of AXA Group, THOMAS BUBERL, holds a Master Degree in Economics from “Universite WHU de Coblence” in Germany, and a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Lancaster in Britain.  Buberl as well holds a Doctorate Degree in Economics from the University of St. Galen in Switzerland.

Thomas Buberl started his career at Boston Consulting Group where he was consultant for the banking and Insurance Sector. He joined Winterthur Group in 2005. The following year, Winterthur Group was taken over by the AXA Group. Buberl occupied a number of posts in the Group, and   on September 1, 2016, he was designated  the Administrator and Director General of the AXA Group. He has occupied that post till date. As the Douala City Mayor, Dr Roger Mbassa Ndine, so aptly put it, Thomas Buberl is a great manager and a man of high integrity.