From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
Government Secondary School, Lafiaji, has emerged winner of the 2026 Tax Club Quiz Competition, organised by the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), taking home the grand prize of N2.5 million.
The competition, organised in collaboration with the Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, attracted 90 schools that expressed interest in this year’s edition.
Government Secondary School, Lafiaji, clinched the first position with 20 points, while St. Anthony Secondary School, came second with 16 points. Ebenezer Secondary School, Ilorin, finished third with 14 points.
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The first-place school received N2.5 million, while the second and third-placed schools were awarded N1.5 million and N1 million, respectively.
Speaking at the grand finale held in Ilorin, the Executive Chairman of KW-IRS, Shade Omoniyi, said the initiative reflected a collective commitment to promoting tax education, civic responsibility and voluntary tax compliance among young people in the state.
She explained that the cash rewards were introduced to recognise outstanding performance and encourage healthy competition among participating schools.
Omoniyi disclosed that, in addition to the institutional prizes, students and teachers from the winning schools would also receive cash rewards.
According to her, students of the first-place school would receive N400,000, while their teacher would get N150,000.
Similarly, students of the second-placed school would receive N300,000, with their teacher getting N100,000, while students and teachers of the third-placed school would receive N200,000 and N50,000, respectively.
The KW-IRS chairman commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, for his commitment to the education sector and sustained support for initiatives aimed at equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and values required to contribute meaningfully to the state’s development.
She said, “We remain grateful for your developmental initiatives and landmark achievements across various sectors, as well as your support for Kwara Internal Revenue Service in strengthening revenue administration for the sustainable growth and development of Kwara State.”
Omoniyi also appreciated all stakeholders whose contributions ensured the success of the competition.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Lawal Olorungbebe, said the partnership between the ministry and KW-IRS underscored the importance of collaboration in building a tax-aware and responsible society.
He noted that schools must go beyond imparting academic knowledge to preparing learners to understand how society functions and the responsibilities they would shoulder as future leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs and citizens.
According to him, taxation remains a critical pillar of governance and development, providing governments with the resources required to deliver public services, construct infrastructure, improve healthcare, strengthen education and create opportunities for economic growth.
He emphasised the need to educate children early about the relationship between citizens and government, stressing that responsible citizenship also requires an understanding of the importance of tax compliance.
Olorungbebe said the state government was deploying education as a practical tool to nurture a generation that appreciates tax compliance, accountability, public service and national development.
“The Ministry remains committed to strengthening this collaboration and ensuring that initiatives such as this reach more schools and communities across Kwara State,” he said.
