The Lagos State Internal Revenue Services has collaborated with DKK Nigeria to hold a debate tournament aimed at educating youngsters about the necessity of paying taxes, according to The PUNCH.
Commenting, the Chief Operating Officer of DKK Nigeria, Bukola Thomas, in a recent debate in Lagos, stated that the event would primarily teach youngsters on tax matters while also promoting awareness among young people in society.
Thomas said “This is the maiden edition of our Tax Trybe, where we use a debate to address tax issues. We wanted something that would help young children get educated on tax and be interested.
“So, what we are hoping is that by next year, by the time we are doing this again, we have a larger number of schools.”
According to Thomas, the Tax Trybe is a club set up with aims to instill tax culture in secondary school pupils.
She noted that just 12 of the 20 schools that started the initiative were able to participate in the tournament.
“We are planning to expand the number of schools from 20 to 60 by the end of next year and then we would have more people participate in this competition so that we can now go global and expand to other cities around us,” Thomas expounded.
She insisted that the initiative also sought to produce better grownups who are more conscientious and socially aware of the proper way to conduct things.
“We think that a lot of us might have given them a wrong impression. We are trying to make Lagos start to own responsibilities within Nigeria. The children here will go to other States so they will be able to leave Nigeria with a good name and good reputation all around,” she stated.
Meanwhile, the Director of Informal Sector and Special Duties, LIRS, Dr Folashade Coker was pleased with the Tax Trybe effort, adding that it would assist to catch and educate those children at a young age.
“I am very impressed with what Tax Trybe is doing because we have to catch these children early. We want to ensure that as they grow up, they must inculcate those characters and habits,” she said.
Coker believed that the plan was admirable, adding that it would educate both pupils and their parents.
“The schools also will be able to appreciate what the state government is doing and the efforts of their teachers while their teachers will also apply to the tax laws.
“The impact it would have on the educational sector is to see the children thrive. A lot of children have decided what their careers would be and even beyond that, it will help them, form them and mould them to help them in public speaking,” she added.
Also, the winner of the debate competition from Majidun Senior Grammar School in Ikorodu, Ishola Damilola expressed delight saying the tournament had extended her worldview on the need of paying taxes as a decent citizen.
“I am so happy to be here and I want to use this medium to thank the LIRS and Tax Trybe for allowing me to show my talent. I want to thank my teachers for giving me the courage,” Damilola said.
