The Kwara State government on Thursday reiterated its committed to programmes that will improve intelligence quotient, IQ, among students and also boost their healthy academic performance.

Speaking at the grand finale of this year’s Tax Club quiz competition, organized by the state Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS), the state commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Sa’daatu Modibo Kawu, said that the state government encourages academic activities that could promote intellectual prowess in future chosen profession among students in the state.

The Education commissioner noted that the just concluded annual quiz is crucial, “based on mental development, academic excellence and futuristic capacity building among our students”.

She also said that the state Ministry of Education is always interested at embracing innovative approach towards healthy academic competitions that would boost self-confidence among students.

Meanwhile, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq through the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abdulqadri Mahe, at the event, promised to invest more in education as well as encourage the KWIRS further in their mandate.

Also speaking, the executive chairman of the KWIRS, Sade Omoniyi, who encouraged reading and dedicated learning among the youths, said that 231 entrants competed but were trimmed to 92 then 18 before six finalists eventually contested.

She explained that the competition was in three categories: teachers’, schools’ and students’.

Stepping Stone College, Ilorin emerged 2023 winner with N2.5m financial award.

Others were: the first runner-up, Eucharistic Heart of Jesus College that won N1.5m and the third runner-up, Government Secondary School, Lafiagi that went away with N1m.

On the students’ category, the overall winner was earned N400,000, the first runner-up N300,000 while the third runner-up was given N200,000.

The first teacher collected N150,000, second N100,000 and the third: N50,000.