Get Guardian on GoogleGovernment Secondary School Lafiagi has again emerged consecutive winner of the Kwara Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) 2026 annual tax quiz competition with N2.5Million grand prize. The school won it in 2025.
In the 2026 grandfinale, Saint Anthony Secondary school Ilorin won second prize of N1.5Million while Ebenezer High School came third with N1Million prize.
For the student participants prize, overall winner got N500,000, second got N375,000 while third received N200,000 as their teachers got N150,000, N100,000 and N50,000 respectively.
Speaking at the grand finale on Wednesday in Ilorin, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq said young people must understand that taxation is not merely about the payment of taxes but also about the collective responsibility of citizens to support the provision of public infrastructure, social services, and other essential amenities required for sustainable development.
Represented by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr. Lawal Olohungbebe, the governor said: “over the years, the competition has evolved into an important platform for promoting tax education and deepening students’ understanding of taxation, public finance, and the role of citizens in governance noting that beyond the excitement of the competition, it provides an opportunity to equip our young people with the knowledge and values they need to contribute meaningfully to the development of Kwara State and Nigeria at large.”
The governor said his administration remained committed to building a state where opportunities for learning, innovation, and personal development are accessible to our young people as they recognised that education and human capital development are critical pillars of sustainable growth, and we will continue to support initiatives that equip our students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to succeed in an increasingly competitive world.
Earlier, the Chairman KWIRS, Shade Omoniyi noted that the knowledge gained through the competition is valuable, and the experience ought to inspire them to aim higher, “and to all the students here, I encourage you to remain committed to your studies, continue to develop your talents, and believe that with hard work and perseverance, the possibilities before you are limitless,” he charged.
The Olofa of Offa, Oba Muftau Esuwoye, said the level of educational advancement of the people of Kwara state saved the state from sliding into the list of states with high poverty index.
He said the recent ranking of 20 states in Nigeria with high poverty index which exonerated Kwara state, was the result of the the level of educational advancement of the people of the state and it’s government investments in the sector.
The monarch who said he was excited by the recent ranking of the state as a low poverty status one, urged stakeholders in the state to support educational development of the younger generation to further guarantee the future of the state.
