Israel Thomas is the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of ITET Gem Foundation. He established the Foundation from a deep commitment to giving back to society, having personally benefited from several scholarships and the generosity of individuals and institutions throughout his academic journey. This experience shaped his conviction that access to opportunity can transform lives and inspired his commitment to helping young Nigerians discover, develop and maximise their potential.

Israel is a finance and strategy professional with experience across leading multinational and African businesses. He began his professional career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the world’s largest professional services firms, where he provided assurance services to financial services clients. He subsequently held finance and strategy roles across multinational organisations, including serving as Strategy Manager at Dangote Group, one of Africa’s leading diversified conglomerates.

Israel holds an MBA with Distinction from London Business School, an MSc in Management and Finance from the University of Aberdeen, and a BSc in Economics from Igbinedion University, where he graduated as the Overall Best Graduating Student. He is also a Chartered Accountant and member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

His educational journey has been supported and recognised by several institutions. He has received scholarships and educational support from organisations including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), ICAN, CFA Institute and London Business School, as well as from private individuals who invested in his education. These experiences remain a significant influence on his commitment to creating similar opportunities for the next generation.

Beyond his professional career, Israel is passionate about youth development, mentorship, education and creating pathways through which talented young people can realise their potential.

His core values are integrity, care and accountability.

Position: Founder, Chairman & Trustee
Nationality: Nigerian
Education: BSc Economics, Igbinedion University; MSc Management & Finance, University of Aberdeen; MBA (Distinction), London Business School
Professional Qualification: Associate Chartered Accountant, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ACA, ICAN)