Introduction

Joel-Onowakpo Thomas popularly known as (JOT) is a Nigerian chartered accountant, businessman and politician. He is the senator-elect to represent Delta South senatorial district in the 10th assembly. He was the first executive chairman and the fifth chief executive of Delta state Board of Internal Revenue from 24 July 2009 to 22 September 2015.

Joel Onowakpo is married with 3 children.

Profile

D.O.B – 27 April, 1967

Place of Birth – Emede town, Isoko South L. G. A.

State of Origin – Delta State

Education

Joel Onowakpo Thomas had his primary education between 1975 and 1979 at State Primary School, Obrigbene in Bayelsa State. From there, he got admission into Government Secondary School Ekeremore also in Bayelsa State.

Joel Onowakpo Thomas completed his Secondary Education in Emede Grammar School in 1984 Between 1985 and 1989, he worked as a sales boy accountant, clerk, and cashier in Okwegbe and sons Ltd, Oleh in Delta State. From there he proceed to Lagos in 1990 to start his professional career with (ICAN) under the accounting technician scheme and became a member in September 1991.

Joel Onowakpo Thomas’s quest for knowledge has led him to so many local and international courses in management and sustainable development which include: the University of Edinburgh Business School, and Conventry University.

Politics

Joel Onowakpo Thomas (JOT) aside from his professional career and private life before venturing into politics was group chairman of Elomaz Holding which Comprises Elomaz Nigeria Limited, Elomaz Mining, and Exploration Limited, JOS, and Weimog Technologies Limited, a computer and telecommunications outfit among others. He is also the Vice-Chairman of Elomaz Nigeria Investment Limited.

Joel Onowakpo is also a philanthropist. He is the founder of Ithihikpebe Campaign Organization and its empowerment wing which in turn in modern-day Elomaz Foundation’s vision mission and goal are to empower the less privileged, render selfless services such as free jamb lectures, scholarship, textbooks, notebooks micro-credit, vocational training and starter pack for employment graduate.

He was also a recipient of the Development in Nigeria Merit Award in 2004 and has since received several other awards. As of today, he has presented so many papers on taxation, technology, acquisitions, and sustainable management strategies

He was a Caretaker chairman in Isoko South Delta State and his contribution and manner of handling local and administrative issues attracted several recognition from the local and international scenes, as a result, he was served as Taxation of Nigeria in different capacities such as Member Professional conduct and building committee, he also served as chairman technical appraisal committee and (TIN) Tax identification number.

His distinguished leadership acumen and his ability to manage Isoko South Local Government Council despite dwindling allocation attracted the state government in 2009 when he has appointed as Executive Chairman Board of Internal Revenue, a position he held till 2015, and was able to raise the IGR from 1B to 5.74B Monthly.

His achievement at Delta State Board of Internal Revenue Include The World-class Revenue office in Asaba, Agbor, Oleh, Ughelli Ozoro, and a 6-storey neutral model Delta State Board of Internal Revenue Headquarters and Zonal offices in the state.

This achievement made the Federal Government to appoint him as Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Co-ordinator in 2016, Co-ordinating Rivers, Edo, Delta, where he worked as a team with the expert in taxation and recorded the Nation 4.03trillion in 2017 before his resignation to contest the 2019 Isoko Federal House of Representative Election.

Career

Joel Onowakpo worked briefly with MUKDAP Nig. Ltd before joining Onothome Ofo Thirlwell and CO. (Chartered Accountants) as Audit clerk in 1992.

In 1994 he qualified as a chartered accountant. By 1996, nothing could have been more rewarding than his admission into Onothome Ofo Thirlwell and CO. A professional and consultancy outfit that for 8years won the prestigious Nigerian Stock Exchange Merit Award for Quality Audit Reporting and Depth of Information Provided in Annual Account. But because of his drive for a good academic career, he furthered his studies by taking Masters Degree in Technology Management which he completed in the Year 1999 at Ogun State University Agoiwoye and thereafter became a fellow of the chartered institute of taxation of Nigeria.

Joel Onowakpo Thomas’s contribution to accountancy and community development led to including him in the “Who is Who in the 21st Century 2nd edition” by the International Biographical Centre Cambridge, England.