How to register an NGO in Nigeria in 2021

There are over 300 Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Nigeria and more are still incorporating their names as a legal entity with the Cooperate Affairs Commission (CAC).

So if you’ll be registering your organization as an NGO in Nigeria but don’t know-how, fret not, this tutorial will give you the break down of the entire process within a few minutes.
But before then, you may want to know that the Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) are sometimes referred to as the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

They are organizations that encompass a bunch of voluntary citizens that are ready to push for a common goal. They are an active performer of humanitarian functions and services, too.
While NGO isn’t a commercial body, they’re often organized around certain issues like human rights, health care, girl-child right, etc. Nonetheless, they are duty-bound to be registered as an entity before the Corporate Affairs Commission.

Steps to registering an NGO in Nigeria

There is a statutory laid down instruction for the complete registration of an NGO in Nigeria. The registration is a bit similar to what is entrenched in Part A and Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).
Hence, this tutorial on how to register an NGO in Nigeria will only explain the stipulated guidelines contains under Part C of the Act.

STEP 1: Check for name availability
When it comes to legal entity registration, the first thing is to conduct a name search to see if the proposed organization name is available or not.
Usually, it’s advisable to prepare at least 2 names or so, in case the primary name is not available to pick then the alternate one will come in to play a role.

STEP 2: Choose your board of trustees
It’s expected of every Non-governmental Organization to be governed or managed by the Board of Trustees. They are equivalent to shareholders or directors in a registered or incorporated company.
Therefore, prepare your Trustees towards the organization registration as they’ll be responsible for governing and managing the association.

STEP 3: Publication of intention
Once the organization chosen name has been approved and the board of trustees are in place, what is the next step for the successful registration of the NGO is for the Trustees to publish a notification (with 3 different newspapers) of intention to incorporate their NGO.

STEP 4: Submission of the application form
The last step is to fill the application form and submit it to the right body saddled with the responsibility (CAC). The application form isn’t difficult to understand; all it contains are the NGO approved name, address, the organization aims and objectives in brief, etc.
Also, the form requires the Board of Trustees’ personal details such as their names, permanent residential addresses, sex, occupation, nationality, etc.

Equally, the completed form will be submitted together with other documentation such as the application letter, two copies of the organization constitution, original newspaper publications, a copy of the minutes of the meeting when the trustees were chosen, etc.

STEP 5: Review
There’s nothing left at this stage except for the Corporate Affairs Commission to review your application and if you meet all their requirements, the NGO will be registered under the CAC and you can commence your operation immediately.