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Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria Hold Annual Youth Career Fair

By Afolabi Ogunde on March 8, 2012

The Society of Women Accountants of Nigeria (SWAN), a division of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) held its annual youth career fair in Kings College on Tuesday. This year’s career fair was sponsored by the Lagos Inland Revenue Service (LIRS), Cadbury, The Literacy Foundation (TLF), and Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC).

More than 700 students from schools on Lagos Island turned up for the event whereas only 500 students had been expected by the organizers. Some of the schools represented were Dolphin Junior and Senior Secondary School, Eko Akete Junior and Senior Secondary School, Oke Suna Junior Secondary School, Epetedo Junior and Senior Secondary School, Kings College, Boys Senior Academy and many others.

The first speaker, Mrs. Sade Afolayan, the Head of Distrain and Enforcement of the LIRS informed the students on the importance of paying tax as a civic responsibility. The students were enlightened on tax not being an option but an obligation of every citizen earning income in the state.

Students witnessed a multi-media presentation of how tax Nairas are put to work in Lagos state to develop roads, hospitals, and to improve security in the State.

One of the students from the Boys Senior Academy posed a question on the effects of corruption on taxes and Mrs. Afolayan in her response stated that it was a disadvantage and an anomaly and in effect, part and parcel of the problem in Nigeria, however it was the responsibility of all Nigerians to fulfill their obligations, both citizens and government personnel.

She left the students with a quote from the Chairman of the LIRS, Mr. Tunde Fowler, “Payment of tax is not an emotional matter, it’s our duty as citizens and an act of law, of both the State and Federal Government”.

Other speakers enlightened the students further on Time and Money Management and how it relates to success in life. The Founder of The Literacy Foundation, Mrs. Sarah Ogunde, spoke on the importance of Reading to proper mental development and increasing one’s prospect in life. Several hundred books were also donated by the NGO to the delight of the students.

Dr. Adedamola Adeogun spoke to the students on the need to develop proper social and sexual orientation in order to have a successful life in the community.

Mrs. Tokunbo Obafemi, Chairperson of the Society of Women Accountants (SWAN) spoke to the students of the decay in the Nigerian society and economy caused by exuberant waste and excesses of Nigerians, particularly the government officials.

She said, “We have not managed the economy well enough and that is why there are graduates on the street. You cannot all be accountants but you will all manage money at different levels during the course of your careers. Nigeria is a wasteful Nation, in everything we do we waste. We want your generation to move away from the culture of waste.”

Mrs. Adeniji of the Ministry of Women Affairs, representing the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope Adefulire commended the Society of Women Accountants for the good initiative to organize the program as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

She said, “The issue of career talk is indeed very important to guide students and particularly our girl child to boost their confidence and cause them to focus on the future. Our students will have the opportunity to learn from our professional experience and to be educated in the opportunities and challenges inherent in their respective professions.”