The Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KW-IRS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development has concluded the preliminary stages of the 2024 Tax Club Quiz Competition on Thursday.

The preliminary stages commenced on 24th June 2024, following a coordinated mock test organized by KW-IRS for all registered participants written in their respective schools to ensure they familiarize themselves with the online Computer Based Test.

A total number of one hundred and fifty-four (154) schools from across the State registered for the competition out of which eighty-three (83) schools participated in the preliminary online Computer Based Test. After the first round, sixty-one (61) schools qualified for the second round of the preliminary stage of the competition.

At the end of the two preliminary rounds, twelve (12) schools qualified for the semi-final stage of the competition. The qualified schools, four (4) from each Senatorial District, are Government Day Secondary School, Gaa-Akanbi, Ilorin South Local Government Secondary School, Oke-Adini, Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Model College, Asa Dam and Total Child Secondary School, Ilorin from Kwara Central; Oyun Baptist High School, Ijagbo, Anglican Boys’ Academy, Oro, Kwara State College of Education Model Secondary School, Oro and Apostolic Faith Secondary School, Egosi-Ile from Kwara South; Government Secondary School, Lafiagi, Royal Seed High School, Jebba, Shepherd Secondary School, Lafiagi and Baptist Model High School, Kaiama from Kwara North.

The Convener, KW-IRS Tax Club Advocacy Committee (TACAC), Funmilola Oguntunbi, speaking on behalf of the Executive Chairman, Shade Omoniyi, stated that the preliminary stage of the competition was a huge success and a landmark achievement for the Service despite some challenges and technical glitches experienced.

She said, “For the first time in the history of the Tax Club Quiz Competition and in line with our automation strategy, KW-IRS organized a virtual competition which enabled students to participate in the preliminary rounds virtually, without having to travel across the State”.

A representative of the Honourable Commissioner, Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Roseline Ayansola, who was present during the back end monitoring of the preliminaries and analysis of final results, commended all registered schools for taking up the challenge to compete for the ultimate N2.5m prize money in the annual tax quiz competition. She applauded the twelve (12) schools for braving the odds and emerging victorious after the rigorous preliminary rounds.

The semi-final stage will also hold virtually as a Computer Based Test (CBT) on 7th October 2024, where six (6) schools are expected to proceed to the final stage of the competition which will hold in Ilorin on 7th November, 2024.