Joel-Onowakpo Thomas (born 27 April 1967) is a Nigerian chartered accountant, businessman and politician. He is the senator representing Delta South senatorial district in the 10th assembly under the platform of the All Progressive Congress.^[1][2] 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.^[3][4][5]

Thomas was born on 27 April 1967 in Emede, Isoko South, Delta State, Nigeria.^[6] He began his primary schooling at State Primary School, Obrigbene in Bayelsa State (1975–1979), continued at Government Secondary School, Ekeremor, and completed his secondary education at Emede Grammar School in 1984.^[7] He earned his professional accounting credentials by qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1994 and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria in 2001; he also holds a Master’s degree in Technology Management from Ogun State University (now Olabisi Onabanjo University), completed in 1999.^[8]