Our personality this week is the Senator representing Delta South Senatorial District, Senator Joel-Onowakpo Thomas. Recently, he put smiles on the faces of farmers in his constituent by distributing 432 bags of 50kg Urea Fertilizers to them, covering eight Local Government Areas of Delta South Senatorial District. The distribution was at the Senatorial District Constituency Office, along Emede-Oleh Road, Emede in Isoko South LGA of Delta State.
Speaking during the distribution exercise, Senator Joel-Onowakpo, who was represented by his Senior Special Adviser on Special Duties/Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Andrew Egunoma, said that the fertilizers were crucial in boosting food production, improving soil fertility, enhancing food security, and promoting economic growth in the senatorial district and the country at large.
While urging the farmers to make good use of the fertilizers, he commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for releasing the items to members of the 10th National Assembly for distribution in their respective constituencies across the country.
In his words, “The distribution of these fertilizers is very important, considering the food shortage crisis being experienced today across the country. These fertilizers will provide essential nitrogen to crops, which will ultimately lead to increased yields and better quality farm produce.
“May I also inform you that the fertilizers will help maintain soil fertility and reduce the need for frequent soil replenishment. This will enhance food security and boost economic activities in our senatorial district as well as the country,” he added.
He urged the benefitting farmers not to take this gesture from Mr. President for granted, saying: “Our dear President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, is highly committed to enhancing food security in the country. I urge you to make good use of the fertilizers to achieve this agenda.
He, therefore, appreciated Mr. President for releasing the Urea fertilizers to legislators.
However, the view out there is, Hon Onowakpor’s gesture to the farmers did not come as a surprise as he has penchant for reaching out to those at the grassroots.
Perhaps, for those who may not know the goodness and kind nature of this worthy Deltan, an x-ray of who he is would do. Now, let’s go.
Hon. Joel-Onowakpo Thomas is a dedicated @leader, seasoned Chartered Accountant, business consultant, entrepreneur, politician and astute manager of both human and material resources, who has proven himself as a good manager, not just in private enterprises, but also in public affairs.
Born April 27, 1967 at Emede, Isoko South L.G.A. of Delta State, he grew up from a humble beginning to become what and who he in society today. He 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, Ekeremor, also in Bayelsa State. He completed his secondary education at Emede Grammar School in 1984.
Between 1985 and 1989, he worked as a sales boy, Accounts Clerk and Cashier in Okwegbe & Sons Ltd, Oleh and thereafter moved to Lagos in 1990 to start his professional career with ICAN under the Accounting Technicians Scheme and became a member in September 1991.
He worked briefly with MukDap Nig. Ltd before joining Onothome Ofo Thirlwell & Co. (Chartered Accountants) as Audit Clerk in 1992, where he proved very brilliant and promising.
In 1994 he qualified as a Chartered Accountant, and in 1996, he got admitted into Onothome Ofo Thirlwell & Co as a partner. Onothome Ofo Thirlwell & Co. a professional and consultancy outfit which for eight years won the prestigious Nigerian Stock Exchange Merit Award for quality audit reporting and depth of information provided in annual accounts.
For his love for education, he furthered his studies by taking up a Masters Degree programme in Technology Management, which he completed in 1999 at the Ogun State University, Ago-Iwoye and thereafter became a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria in 2001. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria.
Aside his professional career, this worthy Deltan is a good businessman and Entrepreneur with good business skills and acumen, as he is the Group Chairman of Elomaz Holdings, comprisong Elomaz Nigeria Limited – a commodity trading company, Elomaz Hotels Limited, Elomaz Mining and Exploration Limited, Jos and Weimog Technologies Limited – a computer & Telecommunications outfit. He is also the Vice-Chairman of Elomaz Nigeria Investment Limited – a finance leasing outfit.
Beyond that, he is a philanthropist whose main goal is to help the less privileged and the founder of Ithihikpebe Campaign Organization and it’s empowerment wing. Ithihikpebe Campaign Organization, empowered centers have executives in all towns in Isoko South Local Government Area, and well organized office at Oleh, Irri, Igbide, while it’s Headquarters is situated at Emede Town.
The Campaign organization has distinguished itself not just for mere political patronage, but as an empowerment organization that is selfless, genuine and patriotic. Its empowerment wing has touched the lives of both the rich and the poor in Isoko nation and beyond. It Ranged from Free JAMB lectures, scholarship, textbooks, notebooks, chairs for schools and other study aids, to Micro credit, vocational training, stater packs and employment for graduates.
As a strong proponent of sustainable human development, he is the President of the Board of Trustees of Joseph Onothome Ofo Educational Foundation – an outfit designed to award scholarships to brilliant students.
And for his outstanding contributions in the Field of Accountancy and Community Development, he was included in the “Who is Who in the 21st Century 2nd Edition” by the International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England.
It is on good record that, Joel-Onowakpo is a man respected both at home and abroad, and that was why, indigines of Emede, his home town, on December 6, 2013 gathered in their numbers to honor him as an illustrious son, who has made them proud.
He was also a recipient of Development in Nigeria Merit Award in 2004 and has since received several other Awards too numerous to mention.
Information has it that, his quest for knowledge has led him to so many local and international courses in management and sustainable development. Among them are: University of Edinburgh Business School, Coventry University, and many others. He has also presented so many papers on taxation, technology acquisition and sustainable management strategies.
He was at one time the Executive Chairman of Isoko South Local Government of Delta State when he attracted several recognitions from both the local and international scenes as a result of his astute leadership qualities. He has, at various times served the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria in different capacities such as Membership and Professional Conduct and Building committees. He has also served as Chairman, Technical Appraisal Committee and FS&GPC of Joint Tax Board Tax (JTB) Tax Identification Number (TIN) Project. He is a member of the prestigious Ikoyi Club 1938.
As one time Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue, his impeccable performance led to the astronomic rise in the revenue base of the state from less than N1b to about N5.74B monthly, which further endeared him to the then Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan, who returned him to the Board after his first tenure which ended June 24, 2013.
It was gathered that his re-appointment was a clear testimony of his achievement of consistently building on the state’s Internally Generated Revenue and the vision of the then Governor to build a “Delta State Beyond Oil.”
Perhaps, it is pertinent to say here that, his achievements at the revenue Board was not only in the area of increase in Internally generated revenue, but also in infrastructural and human capital development . It is on record that the board, in his time experienced face lift in terms of the quality of working environment. The six storey ultra- model DBIR Headquarters, Warri remained one of the faster government projects in his time, as it was not just completed on time, but also with absolute compliance with quality. The board also completed five zonal offices in, Asaba, Warri, Agbor, Oleh and Ughelli.
The board, in his time also acquired and installed up-to-date ICT equipment, while giving major attention to training and re-training of its work force, locally and internationally, in order to make tax administration effective.
