Mentor of the week: How to be a tax consultant

Mustapha Ndajiwo is an international tax consultant based in Abuja – with experience in four continents. He is one of the many young people from Niger State who are setting the pace in their fields. Mustapha was preparing for another of his foreign trips when I got hold of him for this interview – as if to underscore the ‘international’ in his job title. Instructively, he voluntary left a “juicy” position at Federal Inland Revenue Service “because he was underutilized.” Mustapha Ndajiwo is our mentor of the week.

I understand you are going to Tunisia today. What’s the purpose of your trip?

I will be going there to teach members of parliament about illicit financial flows, particularly from the perspective of double taxation agreements.

An agreement signed between two countries to ensure there is no double taxation on the income generated by their taxpayers in the other country. It is also aimed at addressing tax evasion.

I’m there on the invitation of the African Tax Administration Forum and the Tax Justice Network AFRICA.

Participants of the workshop will be drawn from African parliaments including our own Honourable Saidu Musa Abdul [APC, Bida/Gbako/Katcha federal constituency.]

Take us through your educational journey?

I attended Mawo Nursery and Primary School in Minna, after which I proceeded to FGC Kwali Abuja for secondary school.

For my undergraduate degree, I attended ABU Zaria, where I studied Economics.

After working with the FIRS for a few years, I decided to go for a Master’s in Tax Policy and Tax Administration at the Berlin School of Economics and Law in Germany. Currently, I am a PhD candidate at the University of South Africa working on taxation of digitalized businesses.

What are your areas of expertise?

My area of expertise is tax policy, with a special focus on African countries due to the challenges we have raising taxes and the need to fund development.

I am also comfortable designing general policy frameworks.

Mentor10 is an initiative we started for every professional in Arewa to mentor 10 others. Are you willing to join us and how do you prefer your mentees contact you?

I give general career advice, but I would be happy to mentor on research. I already mentor a few people, some are students and some in their careers. My advice to them is to always attempt doing those difficult things people avoid, and they are sure to succeed.

What is your advice for the Nigerian youth – especially Arewa youth?

Hardwork!  Arewa youth have a lot of potential but they need to put in the time and effort and most importantly, be disciplined.

How was your experience in Germany?

It was a great experience – I came to learn that Germans were very blunt people, and if you didn’t know them you would think they were racist, but that’s how they behave with each other. My greatest experience in Germany was in Feldafing, at a resort, we had such an intensive few days working on African tax issues, sharing experiences with AFRICAN experts from 13 different countries. It was intensive, yet relaxing.

What was your childhood dream?

I’m not sure I’ve had a consistent childhood dream, I like to do so many things, however, one thing I know I have always wanted is to sit at the decision table, be the guy who tells people this is how we should do it – I think I got that from my dad’s life and work experience.

Who or what institution or entity contributed the most to your success?

Family. Although growing up, my dad was highly placed in the society, he and our mum never allowed that to get into our heads – they ensured we attended the best of schools and taught us that humility is the key to success and I believe that laid a strong foundation for me in life.

However, I also think that the schools I attended, FGC Kwali and ABU Zaria had such profound impact on my life, as they taught me religious and cultural tolerance, adaptation and most importantly how to be street smart. Lastly, I learnt a lot at the FIRS where I spent most of my career and also the Tax Justice Network where I learnt so much in the space of one year.