By Timeswatch
Lagos – Nigeria:
Three students of Lagos State University (LASU) have broken new ground in youth-driven tax education with the maiden edition of The Tax Student (TTS) Tax Literacy Webinar, held on Saturday, September 26, 2026, via Google Meet.
The webinar, themed “Empowering Students to Understand Tax with Ease & Where Do Our Taxes Go?”, was convened by Miss Agbonifo-Osazuwa Divine, founder of The Tax Student, with Miss Onyuku Anthonia Chioma and Rt. Hon. Adenaya Israel Oluwatimilehin serving as guest speakers.
The virtual programme attracted students, young professionals, business owners, professional bodies and tax enthusiasts, with the objective of simplifying taxation and promoting greater tax and fiscal awareness among Nigerian youths.
Speaking during the webinar, the convener, Miss Agbonifo-Osazuwa Divine, said The Tax Student was established to make tax education simple, relatable and accessible, particularly to young Nigerians who often consider taxation difficult or overly technical.
She said taxation should not be treated as a subject reserved for professionals, stressing that tax affects individuals and businesses in their everyday activities.
«“Tax is taught as something very boring and difficult. But tax is part of our daily life. This platform will help students learn tax with ease, with no big grammar. This is our first step to raise a tax-aware generation,” she said.»
Divine explained that tax is a compulsory financial obligation imposed by law on individuals and businesses to generate revenue for government expenditure.
She also challenged Nigerians to look beyond the collection of taxes and pay closer attention to how public revenue is utilised.
«“We need to look beyond how much tax is being collected and ask what happens to the revenue after it is collected and what value it creates for society as a whole,” she said.»
She further introduced participants to Nigeria’s current tax reform framework, including the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025, which forms part of the country’s new tax legislation implemented from 2026.
Chioma Speaks on Tax Revenue and Public Value
One of the guest speakers, Miss Onyuku Anthonia Chioma, a tax advocate and student of Lagos State University, spoke extensively on the journey of tax revenue from collection to public value.
Chioma explained that taxes collected by relevant authorities constitute government revenue and are subsequently appropriated through approved budgets for various public purposes.
She highlighted major areas of government expenditure, including healthcare, education, roads and infrastructure, national security and defence, public administration, social investment programmes, debt servicing, personnel costs and statutory transfers.
She also analysed the 2026 Federal Appropriation Act, explaining the various expenditure components and their implications for public development.
Chioma encouraged participants to understand not only their tax obligations but also the broader relationship between taxation, government revenue and national development.
Adenaya Traces Evolution of Taxation in Nigeria
The second guest speaker, Rt. Hon. Adenaya Israel Oluwatimilehin, a student leader, tax enthusiast and Speaker of the 10th Legislative Administration of the Nigerian Universities Accounting Students Association (NUASA), Lagos State University Chapter, delivered a lecture on the evolution of taxation in Nigeria.
Oluwatimilehin traced the history of taxation from the pre-colonial era, when communities relied on communal contributions, tributes and communal labour, through the introduction of formal taxation during the colonial period and its subsequent development into the modern Nigerian tax system.
He educated participants on major categories of taxes in Nigeria, including Personal Income Tax, Companies Income Tax, Value Added Tax, Capital Gains Tax and Withholding Tax, as well as the roles played by different levels of government in tax administration.
He also highlighted some consequences of tax non-compliance, including penalties, accrued interest, fines and other enforcement measures provided under applicable tax laws.
Speaking on the importance of taxation, the NUASA Speaker said tax revenue plays a significant role in financing government programmes and public administration, including infrastructure, education, healthcare and security.
He, however, noted that public confidence in taxation is closely connected to citizens’ perception of accountability and the quality of public services delivered.
Oluwatimilehin therefore called for greater transparency and prudent management of public funds, stressing that citizens are more likely to appreciate their tax responsibilities when they can see tangible value from government expenditure.
Participants Receive Certificates
The webinar ended with an interactive question-and-answer session, during which participants sought clarification on tax filing procedures for students, exemptions applicable to small businesses and the implications of the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025 for young entrepreneurs.
Certificates of participation were also awarded to all participants at the end of the webinar, recognising their participation in the maiden tax literacy programme.
Participants described the maiden edition as insightful, practical and timely, particularly for young Nigerians seeking to understand taxation beyond classroom theories.
The event marked the first major public educational programme organised under The Tax Student (TTS) initiative, which seeks to simplify tax education and promote a tax-aware generation among Nigerian youths.
The convener, Miss Agbonifo-Osazuwa Divine, appreciated the two guest speakers and all participants for supporting the maiden webinar and reaffirmed her commitment to expanding tax literacy among students and young Nigerians.
She said TTS would continue to provide accessible tax education and create platforms through which young people can better understand their tax responsibilities and the role of taxation in national development.
