The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced free business name registration for 3,500 small businesses across Nigeria, in a major push to promote entrepreneurship and strengthen the country’s small and medium-scale enterprise (SME) sector.
Registrar-General of the Commission, Hussaini Magaji, disclosed the initiative in a statement shared on the commission’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday.
According to Magaji, the programme is aimed at reducing the cost of business formalisation for micro and small enterprises while encouraging more entrepreneurs to operate within the formal economy. He noted that the move aligns with the commission’s commitment to lowering start-up costs, supporting small businesses, and driving inclusive economic growth nationwide.
“In the spirit of the celebration, the CAC has announced free business name registration for 3,500 small businesses, to be distributed across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory,” the commission said.
Magaji explained that formalising business operations will enable small businesses to access government support programmes, financing opportunities, and broader economic participation.
Reflecting on the commission’s 35-year journey, the registrar-general described the CAC as a product of vision, innovation, and sustained commitment to national development. He added that the agency has evolved into a technology-driven institution focused on efficiency, transparency, and global best practices.
Meanwhile, Magaji revealed that the CAC is set to sign a collaboration letter with Google to strengthen its digital infrastructure and improve service delivery. The partnership is expected to enhance portal performance and further improve the ease of doing business in Nigeria.
He also announced the launch of a redesigned CAC website equipped with new digital tools, including an AI Lawyer and a business name generator. According to him, the AI Lawyer will provide instant guidance on CAC laws and procedures, while the business name generator will simplify the process of reserving scalable business names for entrepreneurs across the country.