To deepen the conversation on tax awareness and enlightenment in Anambra State, the management of the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service has held its maiden edition of the AIRS Schools Tax Competition, organised for private secondary schools across the state.

The month-long event, ‘ The Tax Talk Show,’ a joint tax education and enlightenment programme, was aimed at engaging the students in the importance of tax payment to the well-being of the people and the development of society.

The organisers said the programme’s theme, ‘Increasing tax awareness in tomorrow’s leaders,’ captured the essence of empowering the students with financial literacy and knowledge of tax payment as a civic responsibility.

Speaking during the grand finale of the competition, in Awka, on Thursday, the Anambra Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi, urged residents in the state to make tax payment a civic responsibility.

The governor assured the residents that their taxes would be used judiciously to develop and actualise his administrative vision of making Anambra “a livable and prosperous state in Nigeria”.

He said, “The tax competition underlines the importance of financial literacy and the role young minds play in shaping the economy. The AIRS Schools Tax 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.

“The government will continue to invest in the education and empowerment of the youth so that they can become responsible citizens who will contribute to the well-being of society.

“We commend the organisers of this competition, for the initiative. We also urged the students and other participants to extend what they have learnt from the programme to their parents and neighbours in their various homes and communities.”

Earlier, in his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra Internal Revenue Service, Chief Greg Ezeilo, said the revenue agency under his watch, will continue to engage all relevant stakeholders including the schools on the importance of paying tax through an awareness campaign.

Ezeilo explained that with the use of the pillars of the State AIRS, which includes technology, continuous awareness campaigns, revenue expansion and building bridges, the revenue-generating body will in no distance time begin to generate N10 billion every month to the state government purse.

He commended the governor for his commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises to Ndi Anambra, particularly in the area of infrastructural development, stating that the governor is proactive in positioning Anambra as a model for other states in Nigeria.

In her remarks, the convener and the Senior Special Adviser to the governor on IGR, Mrs Onyeka Amara-Kate, commended the governor for ensuring the success of the event.

Amara-Kate noted that the essence of the competition was to create awareness of tax education among the students to deepen the conversation across the state.

She said, “What gives us joy is that there is one thing to conceive an idea and see it till the end. We are excited that we were able to see this programme to the end. And we are happy that we made the impact of tax education on the life of the young ones and this has helped to deepen the knowledge of the tax-paying community in Anambra.

“This is like an eye-opener, before now a lot of people did not know that the AIRS was approachable, this competition aimed to help the organisation drive tax awareness through the students. With what they have learnt, they would go home and help to widen the conversation among their parents and other residents.”

She also added that the competition will be held annually to keep the students informed about the importance of tax payments to the nation’s development.

The competition saw Lady Hannah International School, Awada-Onitsha emerging as the overall winner, Grace Court International School coming in second position, and Maris Comprehensive College coming third.

The winning schools went home with various prizes, including cash and trophies.

PUNCH