The University of Ilorin Tax Club has honoured the Executive Chairman
of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), Prof. Muritala
Awodun, during its Annual National Tax Colloquium for his contribution
and efforts in raising a generation of tax compliance citizens.
While receiving the award, last week, Prof. Awodun reiterated the
importance of tax awareness among younger generation. The Don who was
represented by, Head of Corporate Affairs Department, KW-IRS, Mr. Temi
Kolawole, stated that the place of tax education, especially among
students, in revenue mobilisation cannot be over emphasised.
Olukunle Ogunbamowo from Deloitte Nigeria and Dr. Titilayo Fowokan
were also awarded at the National Tax Colloquium that lasted two days
(21st -22nd, May) at the University of Ilorin, Faculty of Law.
The event with the Theme ‘Taxation as an Economic Product: Achieving
Comparative Advantage’, ended on a good note as the host institution,
Unilorin, bagged the second position in the competition.
The participating institutions included Obafemi Awolowo University,
University of Ibadan and Lagos State University among others.
Representatives from Deloitte, Dangote, Chartered Institute of
Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and
others were also in attendance to grace the occasion.
In his opening remarks, the Dean of Faculty of Law, Prof Abdulmumin
Adebayo Oba, represented by the HOD, Business Law, advised the
students to make utmost use of their time on campus as they continue
to be good ambassadors of their various institutions.
The first keynote lecture presentation themed: ‘Would the Nigerian Tax
System be better as an Economic Product? Pitfalls of a Producer
Mindset’ was delivered by Mrs. Oluwapelumi Adebisi who represented the
CITN Registrar Mr. Fisayo Awogbade.
A partner in Deloitte Nigeria, Mr. Olukunle Ogunbamowo, while
delivering his keynote address on the topic ‘Creating a Top Notch
Product: Lessons for the Nigerian Tax System’, spoke on the canons of
taxation. He added that for a good tax system to be in place in
Nigeria, Tax Policy, Tax Legislature and Tax Administration must be
reviewed.
While delivering the third keynote address on “Finding the Best Tax
Product: The Comparative Advantages of Kwara State”, the
representative of KW-IRS Chairman, Mr Kolawole, recounted the
achievement of the agency from inception in the year 2015 till date
using the state of States reports. He also enumerated the efforts of
the Service in mobilizing revenue for the strategic development of the
State such as the ISO certification, the improved performance from
N7.5 billion to N23billion, the Community Impact Programs which serve
as a way of giving back to the people, the automation of processes to
ease the modus operandi of the Service, among others.
The grand finale of the ‘Tax Think Tank Contest’ commenced after the
presentations of awards. Obafemi Awolowo University and Lagos State
University came 3rd, University of Ilorin, the defending champion.
came 2nd while the University of Ibadan emerged the overall winner.
In his closing remark, the Tax Club President, Omotayo Jimoh
appreciated the corporate organisations and all participants for their
supports.
