In a move aimed at boosting entrepreneurship and promoting formalisation of small businesses, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has approved free business name registration for 3,500 small enterprises nationwide.
The programme will cover all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The announcement was made on Monday by CAC Registrar-General, Hussaini Magaji, during the Commission’s 35th anniversary celebrations in Abuja.
Speaking to stakeholders, Magaji emphasized that the initiative reflects CAC’s ongoing commitment to reducing the cost of doing business and expanding access to economic opportunities for emerging entrepreneurs.
According to Magaji, the programme is designed not only to encourage small business owners to register formally, but also to provide them with access to government services, credit facilities, and business development support.
“Our goal is to make it easier for small businesses to enter the formal economy, grow sustainably, and contribute to national development,” he said.
The Registrar-General also announced a series of complementary initiatives.
These include scholarships for six outstanding corporate law students at the Nigerian Law School, and social responsibility projects such as donations of mattresses to an IDP camp and support for orphanages.
In addition, CAC revealed plans to strengthen its digital service delivery through a collaboration with Google.
The partnership would focus on enhancing CAC’s online platform, ensuring faster and more reliable registration services, and improving the overall ease of doing business for entrepreneurs across the country.
The anniversary also saw the launch of a redesigned CAC website equipped with innovative tools, including an AI-powered legal assistant to guide users on registration procedures and a business name generator to help entrepreneurs reserve unique and scalable business names.
Magaji expressed gratitude to stakeholders and partners for their support, noting that the 35th anniversary reflected CAC’s journey toward becoming a technology-driven, transparent, and globally competitive institution.
He added that the free registration initiative is expected to provide a boost to Nigeria’s small and medium enterprise (SME) sector, helping businesses operate legally, attract investment, and access opportunities that were previously limited to formally registered entities.
The programme marks a key milestone in CAC’s history and underscores the Commission’s commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship, and national economic development.
