By Dele Moses, Ilorin
Government Secondary School, Lafiagi in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State has emerged the winner of the 2026 edition of Tax Club Quiz Competition organised for secondary schools in the state.
The school won the competiton after it had consecutively emerged the first runner-up at the last two editions in 2024 and 2025.
The Lafiagi school emerged the winner of the 2026 edition at the grand finale of the competition held at the Ilorin Innovation Hub.
It won the star prize of N2,500,000 for its school project while the students that represented it at the competition were given N400,000 as their teacher, was also awarded N150,000.
The school had been through to the final stage of the competition alongside five other schools which were Ansar-U-Deen College, Offa; Ebenezer High School, Ilorin; Government Secondary School, Ilesha-Baruba; Saint Anthony’s Secondary School, Ilorin; and Oro Grammar School, Oro.
Saint Anthony’s Secondary School, Ilorin, which emerged as the second runner-up in the 2025 edition, improved its record by securing the second position in the 2026 edition. The school received ₦1,500,000 for its school project, ₦300,000 for the students, and ₦100,000 for the teacher. Ebenezer High School, Ilorin, emerged third and received ₦1,000,000 for its school project, ₦200,000 for the students, and ₦50,000 for the teacher.
Ansar-U-Deen College, Offa; Government Secondary School, Ilesha Baruba; and Oro Grammar School, Oro, finished fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively.
The Tax Club Quiz Competition is organised by the Kwara Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) in collaboration with the Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development.
In his address, the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, applauded the two agencies for sustaining the laudable initiative.
The governor who was represented by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development and Supervising Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr Lawal Olorungbebe, noted that the organisers of the completion are by the programme introducing students to fundamentals of taxation at early stage to aid them in the appreciation of the relationship between tax revenue, public expenditure, accountability and development.
He stated, “This partnership reflects a shared understanding that education goes beyond academic qualifications; it must also prepare young people to appreciate their civic responsibilities, understand public institutions, and become active participants in building a prosperous society.
“By introducing students to the fundamentals of taxation at an early stage, KWIRS is helping to nurture a generation that appreciates the relationship between tax revenue, public expenditure, accountability, and development. This is a commendable investment in the future of our state.”
Abdulrazaq congratulated all the participating schools, the finalists, and everyone who contributed to the success of this year’s edition of the Tax Club Quiz Competition.
In her remarks, the Executive Chairman, KWIRS, Shade Omoniyi, expressed her sincere appreciation to the governor for his unwavering commitment to the education sector and his continued support for initiatives that empower young people with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to contribute meaningfully to the development of the state.
Omoniyi explained that the objective of the quiz competition was to help students understand that payment of tax is a civic responsibility and an important contribution to the provision of public infrastructure and services, as well as the sustainable development of the state.
She said that the competition provides an opportunity for students to build confidence, sharpen their critical-thinking skills, and learn the value of healthy competition.
The KWIRS boss appreciated the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, the Management and Staff of KWIRS, the Tax Club Advocacy Committee, and the 90 schools that registered for the competition this year.
Goodwill messages were delivered by Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development; Olorungbebe; Commissioner for Youth Development, Shehu Ndanusa Usman, the Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye II; the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Mohammed Kudu Kawu; and the Tax Club Coordinator, Ilorin South Local Government, Romeo Oseni.
In his closing remarks, the Director, Income Tax, KWIRS, Mohammed Usman, applauded all the participating schools and appreciated the royal fathers and other dignitaries present at the event.
Also present were the state Commissioner for Finance, Dr Hauwa Nuru; Commissioner for Communications, Bola Olukoju; representative of the Emir of Ilorin and District Head of Alapa, Alhaji Saka Yusuf; the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Yahaya Muhammed Atoloye Alebiosu; Olomu of Omu-Aran, represented by High Chief Peter Bamigboye; the Etsu of Patigi, represented by the Wakilin Tsapta Patigi, Alhaji AbdulRahman Mohammed Yanda; Emir of Ilesha-Baruba, represented by the Turaki of Ilesha-Baruba, Alhaji Lawal Biriso Saidu; the Olomu of Omupo, Oba Muhammed-Yakubu Adebayo Buari; Chairman, Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Ilorin and District Society, Taofiq Alabi; State Coordinator, Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT), Prof. Khadijat Yahaya; the Director, Agency for Mass Education; media representatives; industry leaders; and other distinguished personalities, who all made the event a memorable one.
