Ibadan, Feb. 16, 2024: President of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Samuel Agbeluyi, says effective taxation is crucial for the steady growth and development of any nation.
Agbeluyi said this while declaring open the fouth edition of the CITN Tax Quiz Competition for secondary schools, on Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo.
The quiz competition was organised by CITN and sponsored by Prof. Ezekiel Williams.
Agbeluyi, who is the 16th president of CITN and fellow of the institute, was represented by the Vice President of CITN, Mr innocent Ohagwa.
He said that effective tax administration is a fundamental component for development.
Agbeluyi noted that without a consistent inflow of tax revenue, no country could achieve meaningful progress.
According to him, the tax quiz is a great medium for grooming the brightest minds who will revolutionalise the future of taxation in Nigeria.
“As an institute, CITN is committed to investing in the future of tax professionalism in Nigeria.
“For students who will ply the route of taxation in their academic pursuit, the Association of Nigerian Tax Students provides a post-secondary school platform that will help shape them to become distinctive tax professionals, “he said.
Similarly, the Chairman, Students’ Affairs and Tertiary Education Relations Committee, CITN, Dr Abiola Adimula, said the mutual civic responsibilities of all citizens in paying their taxes and the need for government to provide infrastructural facilities cannot be overemphasised.
Adimula noted that the earlier the act of tax payment incorporated into the consciousness of the young minds the better for the nation.
According to her, the core objectives of CITN tax quiz are to enlighten students in understanding the role of tax in the development of an economy.
“The tax quiz introduces students to building a career in taxation and other related areas of study,.
”it also creates interactive atmosphere for students to share ideas and contribute positively to the economic development of the country, “she said.
Adimula called on the Federal Ministry of Education and Federal Inland Revenue Service to work hand-in-hand with CITN toward making taxation a subject of study in secondary schools.
Commenting on the initiative, Ezekiel Williams, Professor of Business Administration and Director of Eggheads Management Consultants, said the concept of taxation in Nigeria had been non-existent in the minds of young people for years.
Williams said that birth of the Catch Them Young Taxation Competition in 2021 became essential to bring consciousness of taxation to young citizens.
Miss Abioye Oyinkansola of School of Science, Pade, emerged as overall winner of the competition which featured 12 selected secondary schools across Oyo.
