By Kayode Abdazeez, Ilorin
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has hailed rising awareness of tax among the youth in Kwara State.
The governor expressed the satisfactory while presenting gifts to the winners of the 2024 edition of the State Internal Revenue Services Quiz Competition among the students of secondary schools in the state.
Presenting the cash gift of N2.5 million and trophy to the Government Day Secondary School Gaa Akanbi, as overall winner, the governor said the increasing popular participation in the quiz underscores the rising popularity of the programme and its impacts on public understanding of taxation and the link to socioeconomic development.
A total of 154 Kwara-based public and private secondary schools took part in the contest out of which six made it to the grand finale.
The two students of the GDSS Gaa Akanbi, who participated in the contest, went home with N400,000 personal cash. Their counterparts from the other schools also got different cash prizes for their efforts, ranging from N300,000 to N200,000. Their teachers also got cash rewards for their hard work.
Other finalists were Government Secondary School Lafiagi, which won N1.5 million as first runners-up; and second-runners-up Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Model College Asa Dam which won N1 million); Kwara College of Education Model Secondary School Oro came fourth; Anglican Boys’ Academy, Oro placed fifth; and Shepherd Secondary School Lafiagi came sixth.
Each of the winners got trophies to celebrate their efforts and achievements in the keenly contested competition.
The Governor said the event underlines the importance of financial literacy and the role young minds play in shaping the economy.
He said the Tax Club Quiz Competition is not just a contest but an educational platform that nurtures a crucial cultural legacy and empowers young minds with knowledge about taxation, finance, and economics.
He said the government will continue to invest in the education and empowerment of the youth so that they can become responsible citizens who contribute to the well-being of the society.
Commending the KW-IRS for introducing a virtual dimension to this year’s quiz competition, AbdulRazaq said the innovation enabled the students to participate online from the comfort of their respective schools.
“This is in line with the State’s strategy on full adoption of technology and to ensure that students are further exposed to the use of ICT for examinations in line with global best practices,” the Governor said.
“Our world is changing rapidly, and the economic landscape is evolving. As we navigate these changes, it is essential that young people are well-informed about the principles of taxation, financial management, and economic development.
“By participating in events like this, you are equipping yourselves with the skills and knowledge necessary to make informed decisions and contribute to the prosperity of our state.”
The Governor thanked the teachers, parents, and mentors who have played significant roles in guiding and supporting the young talents.
Chairman of KW-IRS, Shade Omoniyi, said the competition is not just a movement but a platform that serves as a beacon of hope and enlightenment for the younger generation.
“By engaging our young ones early, we are planting seeds for a future generation that will champion accountability, transparency, and economic growth,” she said.
“For the first time in the history of the Tax Club Quiz Competition, we conducted the preliminaries using a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format, allowing students to participate from the comfort of their respective schools.”