The Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji, has called for stronger collaboration between Nigerian universities and government institutions to drive innovation and produce research solutions to national challenges.
Adedeji made the call on Wednesday while delivering the 2025 Distinguished Lecture of the University of Ilesa, Osun State, where he spoke on the theme ‘Economic Resilience in an Era of Dwindling Revenue’.
He analysed Nigeria’s current fiscal realities and highlighted how the country is pursuing economic stability under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu. He outlined reforms introduced at FIRS, including automation and digitisation, tax base expansion, collaboration with states for harmonised tax administration, and institutional restructuring to boost public confidence.
According to him, Nigeria must urgently diversify its productive base beyond crude oil, focusing on agro-processing, the digital economy, the creative industry, solid minerals and other sectors with high growth potential.
Adedeji stressed that building economic resilience requires collective action. He said universities should play a key role by developing research-based solutions to contemporary national problems.
“The task of building economic resilience does not lie solely with government,” he said. “We are ready to embrace partnerships that support academic efforts aimed at bridging the town–gown gap.”
He listed possible areas of collaboration such as joint research on domestic revenue mobilisation, tax equity and digitisation, as well as the establishment of policy innovation hubs where academics and tax practitioners can develop and test scalable ideas.
Charging students to aspire to excellence, the FIRS chairman said the country needs “minds that can think critically, hands that can build institutionally, and hearts that serve patriotically.”
Adedeji also used the lecture to pay tribute to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilesa, Prof. Taiwo Asaolu, who taught him at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He recalled how the then Dr Asaolu paid for his final-stage ICAN examination fees when he lacked the funds as an undergraduate.
He also narrated how Asaolu defended him during an ICAN examination incident in which he was wrongly accused of cheating, an offence that could have attracted a six-year ban.
“To prove my innocence, Prof. Asaolu staked his ICAN certificate,” Adedeji said to loud applause. “That is why he is not just my lecturer; he is my father.”
Earlier, Asaolu said the two-year-old university intends to use its public lecture series as a platform for discussing national and global issues while developing sustainable ideas to address Nigeria’s economic challenges.
