The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched an exciting competition targeting young citizens: the 2025 Students’ Tax Reform Challenge. This initiative seeks to harness the knowledge, ideas, and creativity of Nigerian students regarding the country’s new tax reform laws.
The Students’ Tax Reform Challenge promises significant recognition. Winners will be awarded attractive incentives including N10 million in cash prizes, tech gadgets, internship opportunities, training scholarships, and ambassadorship roles.
Program Details and Objectives
The competition is sponsored by the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee. It serves as a nationwide platform for showcasing fresh perspectives on fiscal policy.
The core objectives of the challenge are:
- Raise Awareness: To promote tax education and inspire constructive dialogue about Nigeria’s tax reform among young citizens.
- Promote Balanced Analysis: To encourage fact-based narrative and objective analysis of tax issues.
- Develop Ambassadors: To create a pipeline of informed youth ambassadors who can drive constructive public engagement.
- Reinforce Social Contract: To position the tax reform as a tool for strengthening the social contract between citizens (civic duty) and the government (accountability).
Who Can Apply and Entry Requirements
The competition is open to a broad base of young Nigerians:
- Eligibility: Undergraduate students currently enrolled in any Nigerian tertiary institution (Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education). Recent graduates undergoing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program or those awaiting mobilization are also eligible.
- Participation: Eligible individuals can participate directly or through their institution’s associations (e.g., tax clubs, economics, accounting, or journalism associations).
Entry requirements are flexible and promote inclusivity:
- Languages: Entries may be submitted in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo, or Yoruba to maximize reach. However, entries submitted in local languages must include an English translation.
- Format: Submissions must be published work. Acceptable formats include articles, videos, podcasts, radio pieces, or social media posts.
- Content: All content must be educative, engaging, and fact-based. Entries that offer critical views of the reform are also welcome.
The final deadline for all applications is December 31, 2025.