The Executive Chairman of the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS), Mrs. Shade Omoniyi, has announced that Kwara State recorded a 36 per cent year-on-year growth in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) between 2023 and 2024.
This performance, she said, has positioned Kwara as the fifth least dependent state on federally distributed revenue in Nigeria.
Omoniyi made the disclosure during a quiz competition organised for secondary schools in the state, where she highlighted the agency’s strategy in strengthening public confidence and compliance.
She attributed the success to KW-IRS’s commitment to building a fair, transparent, and efficient tax system that fosters trust and voluntary compliance critical elements for sustained revenue growth.
Education and Fiscal Discipline
Omoniyi also linked the government’s fiscal discipline to achievements in education, noting that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration has produced exceptional results, with Kwara students “winning medals locally and internationally.”
She added that the governor’s vision is shaping “a generation of disciplined, tax-conscious, and multi-talented youths ready to conquer the world.”
Building a Tax-Conscious Generation
Taking the audience through the essence of the event, the Head of Corporate Affairs, Funmilola Oguntunbi, in her presentation titled “The Journey So Far,” said the quiz competition; jointly organised with the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development remains one of KW-IRS’s most impactful youth engagement initiatives.
“The consistency of this initiative over the years reflects our unwavering commitment to building a tax-conscious and responsible society, starting with our students who are the leaders of tomorrow,” Oguntunbi said.
She explained that beyond the contest, the programme aims to instill civic responsibility and educate young people on how taxation supports state development and good governance.
“At KW-IRS, we believe that when students understand taxation early, they grow into informed adults who appreciate their obligations to society,” she added.
Shepherd School Lafiagi Wins Competition
At the end of the highly competitive event, Shepherd School, Lafiagi, emerged winner of this year’s KW-IRS Quiz Competition with 20 points, ahead of Government Secondary School, Lafiagi, which scored 16 points, and Saint Anthony’s Secondary School, Ilorin, with 10 points.
Ansarul Islam Grammar School, Ijomu-Oro, came fourth with eight points, Roemichs International School, Ilorin, scored six, while Ansar Ud-Deen College, Offa, finished with four points.
Shepherd School, Lafiagi, received a cash prize of ₦2.5 million, while Government Secondary School, Lafiagi, and Saint Anthony’s Secondary School received ₦1.5 million and ₦1 million, respectively.
Other participating schools also received consolation prizes.
The competition, which featured 99 schools across the state and was attended by traditional rulers and education stakeholders, underscored Kwara’s commitment to promoting tax education, civic responsibility, and youth development.
