As we inches closer to the general elections, the need to sensitize the good people of Delta South becomes obligatory to distinguish between our candidate Joel Onowakpo Thomas and the rest
Unlike the People’s democratic senatorial candidate, Michael Diden a.k.a Ejele who started from the Ogunwanja unit of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Sapele where he became the chairman of the Loaders Union
JOT had his primary education between 1975 and 1979 at state primary school Obrigbene in Bayelsa State, he got admitted into Government Secondary school Ekeremor also in Bayelsa State, and finally 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 in Oleh Delta State. From there he proceeded to Lagos in 1990 to start his professional career with (ICAN) under the accounting technician scheme and became a member in September 1991
He worked briefly with MUKDAP Nig.Ltd before joining Onothome Of Thirlwell and CO as audit clerk where he displayed brilliancy and a promising future
In 1994 he was qualified as a chartered accountant, nothing was more rewarding than his admission into Onothome Of Thirlwell and CO, a professional and consultancy outfit that won the prestigious Nigerian Stock Exchange Merit Award for quality audit reporting and depth of information provided in annual account.
Due to his love for good academic career, he further his studies and obtained a master’s degree in Technology Management at the Ogun State University Agoiwoye and thereafter became a fellow of the chartered institute of taxation of Nigeria
Joel Onowakpo Thomas, aside his professional career and personal life before venturing into politics, was group chairman of Elomaz Holding which comprises of Elomaz Nigeria Limited, Elomaz mining and Exploration Limited Jos and Weimog Technologies Limited, a computer and telecommunications outfit among others. He was also Vice-chairman of Elomaz Nigeria Investment Limited.
He is also a philanthropist whose main goal is to help the less privileged.He is the founder of Ithihikpebe campaign organization wing, which in modern day Elomaz Foundation vision and mission are to empower the less privileged, render selfless services such as free jamb lectures, scholarship, textbooks, notebooks, micro credit, vocational training and starter packs
Joe Onowakpo Thomas’s contribution to accountancy and community development lead to including him in the “Who is Who in the 21st Century 2nd edition” by the International Biographical Centre Cambridge, England.
He was also a recipient of the Development in Nigeria Merit Award in 2004 and has since received several other awards too numerous to mention. Hon. 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.
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 of the astute leadership qualities 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 demonstrated in his private life 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-story neutral model Delta State Board of Internal Revenue Headquarters and Zonal offices in the state.
This achievement trigger the federal government and appoint him as federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) Co-ordinator in 2016 Co-ordinating Rivers, Edo, Delta where he work 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.
Delta South Senatorial district deserves an astute academician to represent us at the 10th assembly red chamber, vote JOT, vote APC 5/5.
Comr. Harrison Ak Akowei Media Director JOT Ijaw Nation
