…embraces AI for economic growth
The Society of Women in Taxation (SWIT) has unveiled an ambitious roadmap aimed at reshaping Nigeria’s tax administration through inclusive policies, technology adoption, and nationwide expansion of its network.
Speaking after her inauguration as the sixth National Chairperson of SWIT in Abuja over the weekend, Dr. Caroline Mary Ndubuisi, declared the group’s renewed commitment to strengthening collaborations across federal and state tax agencies, professional institutes, and lawmakers.
“We will strengthen our collaborations with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Federal Capital Territory- Internal Revenue Service (FCT-IRS), sister institutes, and lawmakers to ensure tax policies reflect inclusive, gender-sensitive perspectives,” Ndubuisi stated, this suggesting a push for equity in fiscal governance.
She said SWIT will remain actively engaged in Nigeria’s fiscal discourse. “By speaking up and showing up, SWIT will be at the heart of fiscal conversations shaping our nation,” she added.
At the core of SWIT’s agenda is the establishment of the SWIT Leadership Hub, which will serve as a centre for innovation, capacity building, and mentorship. The hub is designed to provide women professionals with training in emerging areas of tax technology, compliance, and policy development. Partnerships with technology innovators such as Migo Mobile and Cisco Unite Academy will support this effort by bridging the digital divide and equipping members with the tools necessary to excel in today’s fast-changing economic landscape.
Ndubuisi also announced plans to scale SWIT’s national presence from 25 states to all 36 states in Nigeria.
According to her, this expansion is a strategic priority to ensure no woman in taxation is left out. The organisation also plans to roll out SWIT Care Centres, offering legal aid, mentorship, and personal development services, alongside the launch of the SWIT Empowerment Foundation, which will provide scholarships, research grants, and global collaboration opportunities.
Beyond national borders, SWIT will form alliances with development partners, academia, and industry stakeholders to facilitate knowledge sharing, promote best practices, and elevate Nigeria’s image in global tax and governance conversations.
Ndubuisi said these initiatives will strengthen SWIT’s role as not just a professional body but as a catalyst for national development and women’s empowerment.
Delivering the keynote address, Mrs. Olufunke Baruwa, Gender and Development Expert and Chair of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, presented a compelling case for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in tax administration. In her presentation titled “AI for Enhanced Tax Administration and Economic Development”, Baruwa explained how AI has the potential to transform tax authorities from being reactive to becoming proactive agents of change.
She said AI enables automation of repetitive processes, allowing tax professionals to focus on more strategic tasks. Predictive analytics, for instance, can help forecast non-compliance risks, identify high-risk taxpayers, and improve the targeting of audits. In addition, natural language processing technologies can streamline taxpayer communication and services, while machine learning algorithms can detect fraud and anomalies in real time.
“AI systems can analyse millions of transactions and flag suspicious patterns that might be overlooked by human auditors,” she noted. “This enhances the efficiency of audits while protecting law-abiding taxpayers from unnecessary scrutiny.”
Baruwa highlighted the role of chatbots and virtual assistants in handling large volumes of taxpayer inquiries, improving service delivery and user satisfaction. She also pointed out how AI helps create a 360-degree view of taxpayers by aggregating data from banks, customs, and land registries—improving tax compliance and closing revenue gaps.
She further explained that AI facilitates differentiated treatment of taxpayers based on behavior. Low-risk individuals could enjoy simplified filing systems, while high-risk taxpayers would receive more thorough scrutiny.
Baruwa referenced global examples including Estonia, Singapore, and some African nations where AI-driven tax systems are already delivering measurable benefits. She added that Nigeria is not far behind, citing the Nigeria AI Collective—an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy—as a promising step toward safe and impactful AI deployment. The Collective serves as a hub for responsible AI development and adoption in governance.
She said that with enhanced tax systems, the government will be better positioned to mobilize domestic resources to fund education, healthcare, and infrastructure. An efficient and fair tax system, she said, strengthens trust in government and improves the overall investment climate.
Baruwa also underscored the broader economic impact of AI, explaining that AI itself can stimulate new industries, generate employment, and deepen local innovation ecosystems. She, however, issued a caution: “AI must be deployed responsibly. Poor-quality data or biases in AI models can lead to unfair outcomes. It is vital that systems are built around the principles of equity, justice, and transparency.”
She called for strong data protection frameworks and urged tax agencies to ensure explainability in automated decisions, especially those affecting citizen rights and obligations. She also advocated for capacity building, not just for tax officials but for taxpayers, to prevent digital exclusion.
Concluding her address, Baruwa said SWIT is well-positioned to take on a leadership role in shaping Nigeria’s AI-for-taxation journey. She encouraged the organisation to champion responsible use of AI through strategic alliances with FIRS and other tax authorities under a shared vision of innovation and equity.