Nigerian journalist, policy analyst and strategic communications practitioner Arabinrin Aderonke is set to present research examining the role of communication in strengthening tax compliance and domestic revenue mobilisation across Africa at a continental tax conference in Rwanda.

Aderonke will present a paper titled, “Impact of Communication on Taxation in Africa,” at the 11th African Tax Research Network Annual Congress, scheduled for September 22 to 24, 2026, at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda.

The congress, organised by the African Tax Administration Forum, will bring together researchers, tax administrators, policymakers and development practitioners to examine emerging taxation and public finance challenges across the continent.

According to ATAF, this year’s congress attracted 190 research paper submissions, reflecting growing interest in African-led research addressing taxation, revenue administration and fiscal policy.

Aderonke’s research introduces a communication dimension to the conversation by examining how the way governments and revenue authorities explain taxation could affect taxpayer awareness, public trust and voluntary compliance.

“The Impact of Communication on Taxation in Africa will explore how strategic communication can strengthen taxpayer awareness, build trust, improve voluntary compliance and support domestic revenue mobilisation across the continent,” she said.

The subject is particularly relevant as African governments seek to strengthen domestic revenue mobilisation amid growing expenditure pressures and changes in the international development and tax environment.

For many governments, expanding revenue collection involves more than introducing new taxes or improving enforcement.

How citizens understand their obligations, how tax reforms are explained and how authorities communicate what revenues are used for can also influence the relationship between taxpayers and the state.

Aderonke’s research is expected to examine communication within that broader relationship, considering whether clearer and more effective engagement with citizens can contribute to improved understanding of taxation and encourage voluntary compliance.

The research draws on Aderonke’s professional background spanning journalism, advocacy, public policy and strategic communications.

She previously worked as an investigative journalist and received recognition for her reporting, including the sports category of the Wole Soyinka Investigative Reporting Award. She was also a finalist at the 2016 CNN African Journalist Award.

Her career subsequently expanded into advocacy and public-sector communications, including work connected to women and girls’ empowerment, social inclusion, education, sport and public policy.

She was recognised in the Regional Leader, Africa category of the 2024 Sport Positive Awards and has also received international recognition for her work using sport as a tool for community development and inclusion.

Her experience across journalism and public communication provides a background for examining taxation not solely as a technical matter involving rates, legislation and enforcement, but also as an issue of public understanding.

Communication can become particularly important when governments introduce tax reforms that affect households, businesses and the informal economy.

Technical terminology, inconsistent messaging or limited explanation of new obligations can create confusion among taxpayers. Conversely, accessible information can help citizens understand what is expected of them, how to comply and how changes in tax policy affect their economic activities.

Aderonke’s paper is expected to explore these issues within an African context.

Domestic revenue mobilisation has become an increasingly important policy issue across Africa as governments seek sustainable ways of financing public services and development.

The Kigali congress will examine several dimensions of that challenge, including tax administration, the informal economy, digitalisation, cross-border taxation and the use of data in fiscal policymaking.

Within that wider debate, Aderonke’s research raises a more fundamental question: how effectively do governments communicate taxation to the people expected to pay?

Tax communication can extend from explaining filing procedures and deadlines to helping citizens understand reforms, taxpayer rights, enforcement measures and the relationship between revenue collection and public expenditure.

Aderonke said participation in the congress provides an opportunity to contribute a communication perspective to discussions that are frequently dominated by economics, law, revenue administration and fiscal policy.

Her presentation will place that perspective alongside research from academics and tax specialists from across Africa and beyond.

The African Tax Research Network was established as a platform for African-focused tax research and dialogue, bringing researchers into conversation with policymakers and revenue administrators.

This year’s congress comes as governments across the continent face the challenge of raising more domestic revenue while balancing economic pressures, taxpayer confidence and the need for effective public services.

For Aderonke, the discussion provides an opportunity to argue that communication should not be treated merely as the final stage of tax policy, when governments announce what has already been decided.

Instead, her research will examine whether communication can become a more substantive component of tax administration itself, helping authorities improve understanding, strengthen trust and ultimately build a more constructive relationship between governments and taxpayers.