The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) have unveiled a nationwide initiative to provide free business name registration for 250,000 nano, micro, and small enterprises across the country.
The programme was formally launched in Abuja during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between CAC Registrar-General, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), and SMEDAN Director-General, Charles Odii.
In a joint statement released on Friday, the agencies said the move aims to break down barriers that have kept millions of Nigerian entrepreneurs in the informal sector due to the high cost of registration, bureaucracy, and lack of awareness.
According to Magaji, the free registration drive aligns with ongoing reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration to expand opportunities for small businesses. He added that the Commission is foregoing approximately N3 billion in registration fees to make the scheme possible.
“By removing the cost of business name registration for 250,000 businesses, we are helping more entrepreneurs take the first step towards growth, legitimacy, and access to bigger opportunities,” Magaji said.
Charles Odii of SMEDAN noted that formalisation is the key to accessing grants, training, technical support, and market opportunities. He explained that every MSME in SMEDAN’s database without CAC registration would benefit automatically.
He also reassured business owners that the upcoming CAC fee review would not affect the scheme.
“Formalisation is the gateway to support. By ensuring these businesses are registered and onboarded into our database, we can provide continuous aftercare and open doors to wider markets,” Odii said.
The agencies further stated that entrepreneurs can apply through SMEDAN’s online portal, portal.smedan.gov.ng, while those not digitally inclined can visit SMEDAN’s state offices nationwide for assistance.
The CAC-SMEDAN collaboration forms part of activities marking the second anniversary of both Magaji and Odii’s appointments and is in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to strengthen Nigeria’s MSME ecosystem.
How to Apply:
- Visit portal.smedan.gov.ng and complete the registration form.
- MSMEs already listed on SMEDAN’s database without CAC registration will automatically qualify.
- Successful applicants will be contacted for the next steps in obtaining their CAC certification.
