Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, are expected to grace the 8th-anniversary lecture of January 9th Collective (J9C) as special guest of honour and chairman respectively.
The J9C is a socio-cultural group devoted to good governance and development in the society.
The lecture themed “The tax debate: for young businesses to grow, established firms to survive” is slated for January 9 at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos at 10 am.
Other discussants expected at the lecture include the Director-General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Muda Yusuf; Managing Partner of Highnet Resources, Vivian Ani; Founder of Proshare Group, Femi Awoyemi; Founder of Healthplus Pharmacy, Bukky George; and Chairman, Lagos State Internal Revenue Service Ayo Subair, who is also expected to make a special presentation.
The lecture, which is the sixth in the series since 2013, is part of J9C’s commitment to contributing to the discourse on issues of national interest.
In its previous lectures, issues of small and medium-scale businesses as well as business financing were addressed by experts.
Speaking on this year’s theme, J9C’s spokesman, Wale Ewedemi, explained that the issue of taxation as it relates to businesses in Nigeria needs constant engagement by start-ups and small businesses as well as established business concerns struggling to survive.
Mr Ewedemi added that while it is not in doubt that government also needs to raise revenue through taxes in order to meet its obligations, there is need to have a cordial conversation on how to reach a balance.
“This is what the J9C Anniversary Lecture this year seeks to achieve, by providing a platform at the beginning of the year for you g professionals to interface with government functionaries, regulators, tax experts and the media in order to be better informed in tax matters as a new year and new decade begins,” he said.
J9C is an association of friends and professionals from diverse fields who came together in January 2012 against the background of the Occupy Nigeria Protests with a view to advancing common interests that will lead to national development.
