Today, Chief Sir Monday Onyeme, is celebrating his 58 birthday anniversary. Expectedly, his residence in Asaba, since his emergence as the Deputy Governor-elect in the March, 2023 gubernatorial election has become a beehive of activities.
Last Thursday, I decided to spend a day with Chief Onyeme, who is popularly addressed by his traditional title of Odoziani. From 9.00 am till about 9.00pm of that day, he was receiving visitors.
From the congratulatory visit by members of De Saint International Club to that of his immediate community, Onicha-Ukwuani in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State to members of Lions Club International, the Arewa Community, Umusadege Community and several other groups. That was how a typical day looks like for Chief Onyeme since his emergence as the Deputy Governor-elect of Delta State.
With his 58 birthday anniversary coming less than 24 hours after receiving Certificate of Return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, from 7.00am of Thursday, people of all walks of life thronged his residence to felicitate with him.
As someone who reported the activities at the Deputy Governor’s office for two administrations, that of Chief Sir Benjamin Elue during Governor James Ibori’s tenure and Prof. Amos Agbe Utuama, SAN, when Dr Emmanuel Eweta Uduaghan was on seat as Governor, Deltans are going to have a Deputy Governor in Chief Monday Onyeme whose office will belong to all Deltans as he believes in open-door policy.
Also, as an individual, apart from the fact that Chief Onyeme is the political leader of my Ward, Ward 5, Onicha-Ukwuani which he comfortably led to victory in all the elections conducted by INEC this year, Chief Onyeme was my lecturer at the then Asaba Campus of the Delta State University. At that time, he was working with National Agriculture Land Development Authority, NALDA and with Mr Cyril Agbele, former Accountant-General of Delta State, they ensured that DELSU had enough lecturers to groom future leaders.
As a gold fish that has no hiding place, his life is all about movement, positive movement I can hear you say. He has worked in several places and as such, he is versed in knowledge and experience.
When he spoke on the topic, “Effective Tax Administration For The Delivery Of Democratic Dividends” at the year 2023 Maris Annual Public Service Lecture where he was the Guest Speaker, he held the dignified audience at the Unity Hall Government House, Asaba spell-bound with his knowledge about tax administration and democracy.
To the benefits of Deltans, two years after delivering that lecture, he emerged as the Deputy Governor-elect, a position which he will use to implement what he knows about good governance.
That Deltans are comfortable with him is an understatement, he is loved by the people as his philanthropic activities, good relationship with people cuts across ethnic groups and class.
For the records, while we sing happy birthday songs for Chief Onyeme, one can go through his profile below and say, THANK GOD FOR THE LIFE OF ODOZIANI.
The biography below was reproduced from the brochure for the year 2022 edition of Maris Annual Public Service lecture. Happy reading:
MARIS PUBLIC SERVICE LECTURE: Unveiling Onyeme, The Tax Wizard
BIOGRAPHY OF SIR MONDAY JOHN ONYEME (FCA), PMJE, NLCF
Chief (Sir) Monday John Onyeme was born on 30th March, 1965 at Ibabu, Onicha Ukwuani in Ndokwa West Local Government Area of Delta State.
Sir Onyeme, who holds the prestigious traditional title of Odoziani 1 of Ibabu Kingdom, has had a ‘lion’s share’ of outstanding accomplishments in life.
He spent some of his life in the northern parts of Nigeria where he obtained his First Primary School Leaving Certificate in Army Children School, Sokoto, Sokoto State. He proceeded to Government Secondary School, Gummi, Kebbi State (1977-1982).
Due to his excellent grades in his GCE O’ Level he was admitted to study Accounting at Federal Polytechnic, Kaura-Namoda, Zamfara State, where he came out with a distinction grade in his National Diploma before proceeding to University of Calabar.
A ‘Malabite’, as graduates of the University of Calabar are called, he earned his Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Accounting in 1990 with a Second Class Upper Division.
He later enrolled for a part-time programme with Safe Associates Accountancy Tutors, Surulere, Lagos.
The icing on the cake in his professional pursuit was when he became a Chartered Accountant in 1993. He then proceeded to the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba where he received a Diploma in Computer Science in 2002.
His wealth of knowledge subsequently prospered beyond the shores of this country.
He was at the Northumbria University in the United Kingdom (UK), where he bagged a certificate in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The Northumbria University later awarded him a Masters Degree (MA) in Business Management; and, it was not just an MA degree as this came with a well-deserved commendation from the Newcastle-based university.
Sir Onyeme, a Chartered Accountant par excellence, has made a difference in all the organizations he has worked, consistently bringing his wealth of knowledge and experience to bear on the realization of organizational goals and targets.
He was the Bursar of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), a position and responsibility he discharged faithfully when he was appointed in September 2006.
Before then, he was the Bursar of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba between November 2005 and September 2006. While at the institution, the handling of its finances was in safe hands under his watch as Chief Accountant.
Before higher positions came his way, he had climbed the ropes in professional practice as an Assistant Chief Accountant (Head, Finance and Supplies) at the National Agriculture Land Development Authority, Asaba between July 1996 and October 2000 and was Chief Accountant at Octopus Continental Enterprises, Lagos between July 1995 and June 1996.
Indeed, a rich working experience is an attribute that Sir Onyeme has in large stock as he kept garnering it over the years, including the banking industry.
Between September 1993 and June 1995, he was the Senior Executive Assistant (Audit) at Commercial Trust Bank, Lagos as well as worked in the audit department of the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), in its Lagos Office between February 1992 and August 1993.
He also had a feel of the academic world as an Assistant Lecturer, Federal Polytechnic, Kaura Namoda, Zamfara State from October 1991 to January 1992.
Moreover, he rubbed minds with national and global counterparts through attendance of trainings, seminars and workshops locally and internationally. These took him to foreign climes like Dubai, Sudan, Florida, Texas, London, Oxford, Mauritius, Paris, South Africa, India and many other places.
Sir Onyeme has various publications to his credit, including one he displayed his research prowess, titled “Corporate Environmental Accounting and Reporting in the United Kingdom: A Survey of Selected Companies in Cumbria (2004).”
His professional warchest includes membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Nigeria Institute of Management (NIM), Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors of Nigeria.
A fraud buster, he is also a member of Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
Sir Onyeme, a Knight of Saint Christopher (KSC) of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) as well as a noble Knight, was appointed as the Chairman, Delta State Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR) on September 30th, 2015 to September 30th, 2019.
As a results of his contributions to the optimal increase of the Internally Generated Revenue Service of the State and his commitment to service delivery, he was reappointed by the Delta State Governor, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, as Chairman, Delta State Internal Revenue Service (DSIRS).
Sir Onyeme is a philanthropist, a humanitarian who is a committed member of the International Association of Lions Club where he was the District Governor 404A1, International Association of Lions Clubs Nigeria between July 2018 and July 2019 where his contributions towards the betterment of humanity and his legacy projects for the good of the society still speak volume and continue to attract various awards.
Sir Onyeme is married with five children. He speaks English Language, Ibo, Ukwuani and Hausa fluently. For these rare qualities, which he possesses in quantum, and for his level-headedness and determination in pursuit of success, his trajectory has lined with lofty achievements.
By FIDELIS EGUGBO
