The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria has urged tertiary institutions in Nigeria to inaugurate tax associations in relevant departments, in order to expose students in the country to opportunities in the tax space.

The CITN Chairman, Students Affairs and Tertiary Education Relations Committee, Dr. Ruth Adimula, said this during the maiden edition of the Association of Nigerian Taxation Students National Essay Competition in Lagos.

At the event, the institute declared the winners of its competition to consist of Chiamaka Precious of University of Ilorin, who came first and won N200,000; Chiemezue Felix of University of Nigeria, Nsukka came second and won N150,000; while Morenike Oyeleke of University of Lagos came third and won N100,000.

“We hereby call on the leadership of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, to join the moving train, by inaugurating tax associations/tax clubs in relevant department of their academic institutions and to also register with ANTAS, to open their students to the on-going opportunities that CITN and ANTAS offered to grow future leaders, that will take-over the management of fiscal and economic wealth of this nation, knowing that revenue generation dwindling in crude oil is opening doors for taxation to shape national income,” Adimula said.

CITN Students Affairs and Tertiary Relation Committee, Adimula explained, is the CITN supervisory committee for ANTAS, with the main objective to guide ANTAS' to ensure their activities complied with the core values of the institute.

Adimula added, “ANTAS intention is to also make formal contributions to the ongoing debate on tax reforms, by engaging the bright minds of its membership across the country to make submissions. 84 ANTAS members registered for the essay competition, 34 essay entries were received for the first stage competition, with the topic, 'Fiscal policy and tax reforms: The implications for national development in Nigeria's high inflation economy'.”