Maiden Edition of AIRS Schools Tax Competition Ends In Awka With Lady Hannah Model Secondary School Awada Obosi Emerging As Overall Winner
By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu
The maiden edition of the Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS), Schools Tax Competition (ASTC), organised for all Private Secondary Schools in the State, has ended in Awka, the Anambra State Capital, with Lady Hannah Model Secondary School Awada Obosi emerging as the overall winner while Grace Court Secondary School, Awka and Marist Comprehensive Secondary School, Nteje took 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.
Addressing the competing schools, students, tutors, and stakeholders during the closing ceremony of the long week maiden edition of the Schools Tax Competition, the Executive Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Soludo charged Ndi Anambra to make tax payment a civil responsibility, saying that prompt payment of taxes would enable the government of the day deliver on her mandate.
Governor Soludo who was represented at the occasion by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, assured the people that the tax money would be used judiciously to develop and actualized his administrative vision of making Anambra a livable and prosperous state in Nigeria.
The governor noted that the competition underlined the importance of financial literacy and the role young minds play in shaping the economy.
He said the AIRS Schools Tax Quiz competition was not just a contest but an educational platform that nurtured a crucial cultural legacy and empowered young minds with knowledge about taxation, finance and economics.
He said the government under his leadership would continue to invest in the education and empowerment of the youth so that they can become responsible citizens who contribute to the well-being of society.
While commending the organisers of the competition, especially, his Senior Special Adviser on IGR-TECHNICAL, Oyeka Amara-Kate, for the initiative, the governor, 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 a remark, the Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra Internal Revenue Service (AIRS), Chief Greg Ezeilo, said the Revenue agency under his watch would continue engage all relevant stakeholders including the schools on the importance of paying tax through awareness campaign.
He stressed that wilth the used of the four-pilars of the State AIRS, which includes; Technology, continues awareness campaign, revenue expansion and gap bridges, the Revenue Generating body in no distance time would begins to generate 10 billion naira every month to the State Government purse.
Ezeilo commended Governor Soludo for his commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises to Ndi Anambra, particularly in the area of infrastructural development, stating that the governor’s proactive leadership is positioning Anambra as a model for other states in Nigeria.
For her part, the convener and the Senior Special Assistant to the governor on IGR-TECHNICAL, Oyeka Amara Kate, thanked the governor for ensuring the success of the event, adding that the competition would be holding annually to keep the students informed about the importance of tax payment to nation’s development.
The event which took place at the SSG Conference Hall, Government House, Awka on Thursday, 21st November 2024 had “Increasing Tax Awareness In Tomorrow’s Leaders”, as its theme, saw Lady Hannah International School Awada-Onitsha as the winner of this year 2024 edition, Grace Court International School second position while Maris Comprehensive College came third.
Presentation of various items including cash prizes and trophies to the winning schools, photos formed the highpoints of the event.
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