The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, has officially extended partnership opportunities to Nigerian tertiary institutions, declaring the agency's readiness to transform universities into hubs of innovation and practical problem-solving.
He made this significant announcement on Tuesday, 19 November 2025, while delivering the prestigious 2025 Distinguished Lecture at the University of Ilesa in Osun State.
Charting a Path to Economic Resilience
Speaking on the theme “Economic Resilience in an Era of Dwindling Revenue,” Dr Adedeji provided a thorough analysis of Nigeria's current fiscal situation. He laid out actionable strategies for building a robust economy under the government's Renewed Hope Agenda.
He detailed the key reforms his leadership has implemented at the FIRS. These pivotal changes include a major push for automation and digitisation, a strategic expansion and modernisation of the nation's tax base, active collaboration with state governments on tax harmonisation, and a comprehensive institutional repositioning designed to bolster public trust.
Bridging the Gap Between Town and Gown
Dr Adedeji emphasised the urgent need to shift Nigeria's economic foundation away from its heavy reliance on crude oil. He championed the development of multiple growth engines such as agro-processing, the burgeoning digital economy, the creative industry, and the solid minerals sector.
He firmly stated that building economic resilience is not a task for the government alone. He called upon academics and other key stakeholders to take the lead in championing research that directly addresses the country's contemporary challenges.
The FIRS is now prepared to partner with scholars and institutions to effectively bridge the notorious town-and-gown divide. Potential areas for this collaboration include joint research projects focused on domestic revenue mobilisation, tax equity, and digitisation.
A particularly innovative proposal was the creation of tax policy innovation hubs. These hubs would serve as dedicated spaces where academics and tax practitioners can co-develop and test scalable ideas for the national benefit.
A Personal Tribute and a Charge to the Youth
Dr Adedeji used the platform to issue a powerful charge to students, urging them to rise to the nation's expectations. “In building a resilient Nigeria, we need minds that think critically, hands that build institutionally, and hearts that serve patriotically,” he declared.
The event also featured a deeply personal and emotional tribute from Dr Adedeji to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilesa, Prof. Taiwo Asaolu, who was once his lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
He recounted a pivotal moment in his life when Prof. Asaolu, upon noticing his discouragement and learning of his financial hardship, personally paid for his final-stage ICAN examinations. “I sat for the examinations and passed. That was how I became a chartered accountant in Part 2,” he shared, drawing resounding applause from the audience.
He further narrated a harrowing incident during his ICAN finals where he was falsely accused of cheating—an offence carrying a six-year ban. Prof. Asaolu, demonstrating unwavering faith, staked his own ICAN certificate on Adedeji's integrity and capability.
To prove his innocence, Asaolu challenged the exam supervisor to either compare Adedeji's script with the notes found or give him a fresh answer sheet with new questions. The supervisor chose the latter, and Adedeji answered the new questions excellently, thereby clearing his name. “That is why Professor Asaolu is not just my lecturer; he is my father,” he emotionally concluded.
Earlier in the event, Prof. Asaolu explained that the two-year-old university established the public lecture series as a platform for dissecting pressing national and global issues and exploring sustainable solutions to Nigeria's persistent economic challenges.
