A corps member serving in Lokoja, Kogi State, Samuel Akanle, has won the 14th edition of the Annual National Essay Competition organised for serving corps members in Nigeria by The Bible Society of Nigeria (BSN). Akanle is a graduate of Law from the University of Ibadan.

Delight Modekwe, a graduate of Applied Geophysics from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, serving in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, emerged second. Interestingly, Miss Modekwe’s two siblings, who encouraged her to participate in the competition, had taken part in the previous editions of the competition.

The third position went to Felix Akinlaja Akintunde, who studied Medicine and is serving in Abia State. Other winners included: Kehinde Oluwaseun, serving in Osun State, 4^th; Yusuf Zulia, serving in Kebbi State, 5^th, and Eneji Imere, serving in Enugu State, 6^th.

They were the best six out of the over 1,000 entries received for the 2025 essay writing competition. At the final stage of the competition, the best six candidates are brought together to defend their essays at a national symposium in a location decided by the organisers. Each of the six contestants received cash prizes, management books, and Bibles, while the best three were given scholarships for professional courses.

The contestants, who spoke on the theme: Tax Reforms and Economic Growth in Nigeria: Evaluating the Path to Sustainable Development and Prosperity, unanimously agreed on the need for tax reforms but condemned the persistent lack of transparency in tax administration and management in the country. They accused successive governments of failing to judiciously use the revenue from various taxes for the benefit of the taxpayers. This, they said, was the reason many people are discouraged from paying taxes.

They also advocated for digitalization of tax payment process and management to curb corruption, build the capacity of tax collectors, and educate the masses on the need to pay taxes.

In his remarks, the chairman of the occasion, the 17^th President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, Mr. Innocent Ohagwa, represented by Mr. Tejumola Kolawole, commended The Bible Society of Nigeria for contributing to the shaping of public discourse on matters of national development through platforms such as the Annual NYSC Essay Writing Competition and Symposium.

Welcoming the guests earlier, the President of BSN, Bishop Dr. Timothy Banwo, said that it is imperative to allow young ones to contribute to national discourse and expressed hope that their views would be heard by the government.

Also speaking, the General Secretary/CEO of BSN, Pastor Smauel Sanusi, said that the programme should not end as talk show, urging the government to judiciously use the money collected as taxes while the masses should pay their taxes.