The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) has rewarded students who performed well in its quiz competition, an initiative aimed at fostering a tax culture among youths and boosting government revenue. The institute presented various prizes to secondary‑school participants who excelled in the grand finale of the Lagos State All Secondary Schools Tax Quiz Competition, a programme sponsored by institute member Pro Ezekiel Williams. The quiz winner received N300,000 and a full scholarship for the first year of university, while the first and second runners‑up were awarded N200,000 and N100,000 respectively. Additional consolation prizes were given to other top participants.
CITN President Chief Adesina Adedayo explained the motivation behind the programme: “We created this initiative to bring the issue of taxation into the classroom. We are not waiting until students reach tertiary level; we must start at secondary school. When students understand taxation, the laws, administration, and policy framework at this basic level, we are winning the fight against ignorance.” To further reduce tax ignorance, the institute has organized similar programmes in other states.
Pro Ezekiel Williams, the event’s sponsor, highlighted the widespread lack of tax knowledge in Nigeria. “If you ask an average adult what tax means, most cannot define it. We want to reach them while they are young so they will understand taxation,” he said. He added that developing the country’s tax revenue would eliminate the need to borrow money to fund the national budget.
Dr Titilayo Fowokan, Chairman of the Students Affairs and Tertiary Education Relations Committee, noted that the CITN received support from Lagos State to organise the quiz, which saw participation from about 60 schools and 700 students. “Taxation is a topic many adults avoid, but we believe it is essential to inculcate a tax‑paying culture in our youth, showing them that tax can be a lucrative business and a viable career choice,” she said.
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