Stepping Stone College, Agbabiaka, Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Thursday, emerged the winner of the grand prize of N2.5 million in the 2023 Tax Club Quiz Competition, organised by Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) for Secondary Schools in the state, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development.
The school’s representatives displayed exceptional brilliance over their counterparts from five other schools that competed at the final stage of the competition.
The annual tax event was held at the Kwara State Banquet, Hall, Ilorin.
Winner of last year’s edition of the annual tax quiz competition, Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Model College, Ilorin, emerged first runner up this time, and won a cash prize of N1.5 million, while Government Secondary School, Lafiagi clinched the third spot worth N1 million for schools’ projects.
Students, who represented the top three schools, got N400,000 (first), N300,000 (second) and N200,000 (third), while rewards for the teachers were N150,000, N100,000 and N50,000 respectively.
Eighteen secondary schools across the three senatorial districts of the state got into the semi-final round of the competition. And after rounds of intensely contested Computer-Based Test, six schools advanced to the final stage.
The schools are Apostolic Faith Secondary School, Egosi-Ile; Baptist Model High School, Kaiama; Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Model College, Ilorin; Government Secondary School, Lafiagi: Stepping Stone College, Ilorin; UMCA Secondary School, Share.
At the grand finale ceremony, the state Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by the Secretary to State Government, Alhaji AbdulKadir Mahe Aliyu, congratulated participants for their dedication since the commencement of the competition, and also commended KW-IRS and the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development for initiating the programme aimed at fostering tax education, awareness and compliance.
The governor said the programme is crucial to the socio-economic advancement, promotion of needed taxation skills and understanding amongst the younger generation in the state.
He assured that his administration is devoted to the advancement of the education sector, and would not relent in empowering the youths and creating enabling environment to learn and compete at various levels.
The Executive Chairman of KW-IRS, Mrs. Shade Omoniyi welcomed all participating schools, and special guests.
She explained that the motive behind the competition is to nurture a generation of tax-compliant citizens and create notable taxation awareness in the growing population at various stages.
Omoniyi thanked Governor AbdulRazaq for his commitment to the growth of the state at all levels.
She congratulated all schools that expressed interest in this year’s edition, adding that all participants are winners.
The Commissioner for Education, Hajiya Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu said that the Tax Club Quiz competition has had continously impacts on the lives of secondary students in the state since its commencement.
She described the initiative as a quality catch-them-young-top tax education programme that would continue to bring about improvement in the promotion of civic responsibility.
The commissioner expressed the Ministry of Education’s keenness to continue to support KW-IRS in all areas, appreciating the governor for his interest and investment in education in the state, since he assumed office.
In their goodwill messages, the Chairman of Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele; and the President of the
Chartered Institute of Taxation,
Mr. Samuel Agbeluyi, represented by Dr. Mrs. Biola Adimula, commended the AbdulRahman-led administration for its laudable initiatives in developing the economy.
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, represented by the Balogun Alanamu, Alhaji Abubakar Jos; the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, HRH Oba (Barrister) Ismail Bolaji Yahaya; the Emir of Ilesha Baruba, Prof. Halidu Ibrahim Abubakar, represented by the Marafa of Ilesha Baruba, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Muhammed; and the Olomu Omupo, HRH. Oba Yakubu Buari, were among several distinguished guests at the event.
They delivered goodwill messages in commendation of the ingenuity KW-IRS.
The convener of KW-IRS Tax Club Quiz competition, Titilayomi Ogunwale, who doubles as Head of Corporate Affairs department of KW-IRS, recounted that the competition, aside imparting tax knowledge and creating tax awareness, also rewards active and excellent performance.
She highlighted the journey so far, by recapping prizes given to past winners of the competition, and completed school projects executed with prizes won by schools.
Ogunwale also said that the service ensures delivery of all cash prizes to schools, students, and teachers who win in different categories, and conducts supervision of funds disbursed for school projects.
Highlights of the event included presentation of prizes by KW-IRS to winners in all categories of schools, students and teachers, presentation of educative materials to all participants.
The event, attended by
government functionaries, stakeholders within and outside the state, heads and representatives of various Ministries, Departments Agencies, institutions, societies, groups, captains of industries, representatives of various media organisations, management and staff of KW-IRS, also witnessed donation of additional cash prizes of N400,000, N300,000, and N200,000 to students in first, second and third positions and N100,000 to students in fourth, fifth and sixth positions of the competition by Compumetrics Solution Limited.
