Stepping Stone College wins 2023 KWIRS tax club quizz

Stepping Stone College, Agbabiaka, Ilorin, has won N2.5 million as the winner of the 2023 KWIRS tax club quizz competition.

At the Grand Finale held at the Banquet Hall on Thursday in Ilorin, the college beat Eucharistic Heart of Jesus College (EHJC); Government Secondary School, Lafiagi; Apostolic Faith College, Egosi-Ile; Baptist Model High School, Kaiama; and UMCA College, respectively.

EHJC, which came second got N1.5 million, while Government Secondary School, Lafiagi, got N1 million as the prize for the third position.

The Chairman, Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWiRS), Mrs Shade Omoniyi, said the competition was not about winning but also about the valuable knowledge gained and the relationships built.

She said KWIRS celebrate not only the finalists but the spirit of learning, determination and the pursuit of excellence of 231 secondary schools that participated in various stages of the competition.

”231 entrants competed but were trimmed to 92, then 18, before the six finalists eventually contested.

”Additionally to what the schools will get, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners in the Teachers’ Category will be awarded cash prizes of N150,000; N100,000 and N50,000.00, respectively.

”And in the award of prizes in the Students’ category, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners get scholarship fund of N400,000; N300,000 and N200,000, respectively,” the chairman said.

The state Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Modibbo Kawu, said the programme was crucial and based on mental development, academic excellence and futuristic capacity building amongst students.

”The Ministry of Education is always interested to embrace innovative approach towards healthy academic competitions that would boost the self-confidence amongst our students.

”I want to appreciate the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) for sustaining the Tax Club quiz competition.

”The Ministry is often ready to continue to partner with you to achieve the main objective of the competition, which is to prepare our younger generations ahead of future challenges of tax collections.

”This is to create awareness, to catch them young, in raising future tax compliant citizens,” Kawu said.

The President, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Dr Samuel Agbeluyi, through a Council Member, Dr Abiola Adimula, said he was excited by the potentials of the next generation of tax professionals.

He said the level of knowledge being displayed by the younger generation on taxation speaks profoundly of the calibre of emerging tax professionals.

Agbeluyi said by organising this competition, KWIRS have not only encouraged a deeper understanding of taxation, but also “inspired a sense of healthy competition and camaraderie among our youths”.

Meanwhile, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Abdulqadri Mahe, promised to invest more in education as well as further encourage the KWIRS.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the competition was organised by the KWIRS in collaboration with the state Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development.