By Toyeeb Omotayo
Stepping Stone College, Agbabiaka, Ilorin, has emerged as the winner of the 2023 Annual Kwara State Internal Revenue Service Tax Club Quiz Competition grand finale.
The school scored a total of Eighteen points to defeat five other Secondary Schools who made it to the final from the semi-final earlier in the day.
With this outstanding performance, Stepping Stone College gets the star prize of Two point Five million naira, Eucharistic Heart of Jesus came second with a prize of 1.5 million naira while Government Secondary School, Lafiaji got the sum of 1 million naira for clinching the third position.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by the Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Alhaji Mahe AbdulKadir said that, nurturing the next generation of tax payers to understand their civic responsibility, is crucial for the growth and development of Kwara State.
Governor AbdulRazaq pointed out that the Tax Club Quiz Competition is not just a context, but an educational platform that empowers young mind with knowledge about taxation, finance and economics.
In her welcome address, the Executive Chairman of Kwara State Internal Revenue Service, KWIRS, Mrs Shade Omoniyi, who thanked Governor AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq for his unwavering support, dedication and substantial contribution to the educational sector in the state also applauded the State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development.
Mrs Omoniyi reminded the students that the grand finale is not only about celebrating the finalists, but the spirit of learning, determination and pursuit of excellence of the Two Hundred and Thirty-one Secondary Schools that participated in various stages of the competition.
The Head of Corporate Affairs of KWIRS and Chairman, KWIRS Tax Advocacy Committee, KW-IRS TACAC, Titilayomi Ogunwale Chronicled the Quiz Competition since 2016.
Titilayomi Ogunwale explained that from a total of Two Hundred and Thirty-one Secondary Schools, it went through stages where Ninety-Two schools emerged, followed by Eighteen before the six that made it to the grand finale.
She also took the gathering through the projects executed by various schools who got money prizes, noting that the agency under the leadership of Mrs Shade Omoniyi has taken the competition to another level.
The Kwara State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Saadat Modibbo-Kawu, who said that the state has been thriving in the education sector, commended KWIRS for the innovation which according to her is already impacting positively on the students.
Hajia Modibbo-Kawu assured KWIRS of the continued support of the Ministry said that to accomplish the theme “Raising a generation of Tax Compliance Citizens” requires collective effort.
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, who was represented by the Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin, Alhaji Usman Atolagbe-Jos, applauded Mrs Shade Omoniyi and her management team.
Also delivering his goodwill message, the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismaila Yahaya Alebiosu, expressed appreciation to Governor AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq and KWIRS for raising the bar of standard of education and tax compliance youth.
Speaking on behalf of their school, Roqeeb Ibrahim, from Stepping Stone College and her counterpart from Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Model College, Master Azor Chinonso thanked KWIRS and the state government for initiating the Tax Club Quiz Competition.
Teachers of first, second and third positions went home with cash prize of One Hundred and fifty thousand, One Hundred thousand and fifty thousand naira respectively.
In addition, students also got scholarships funds with first category parting with Eight hundred thousand, second position, Six hundred thousand and four hundred thousand worth of scholarship to the third place.
There were goodwill messages from Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Mr Taiwo Oyedele who spoke via zoom, National President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, CITN, Mr Samuel Agbeluyi, represented by Dr Abiola Adimula, the Olomu of Omupo, Oba Yakub Buhari and others.
Highlight of the event include symbolic presentation of cheque to the outstanding three Secondary Schools, while others got consolation prizes.
