The Federal Government has opened applications for the free registration of 250,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), in a major initiative aimed at formalising businesses and expanding financial inclusion across Nigeria.
The programme, approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is being implemented through a partnership between the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria and the CAC. Under the initiative, eligible nano, micro, and small businesses will receive free business name registration, with the Federal Government covering the statutory registration costs.
Beyond the free registration, successful applicants are expected to benefit from business development support, technical training, and inclusion in SMEDAN’s MSME database, improving their access to government programmes, financing opportunities, and capacity-building initiatives.
Interested entrepreneurs can apply through the official SMEDAN registration portal by completing the required business profiling and submitting the necessary information. Businesses that meet the eligibility criteria will be contacted for the next stage of the CAC registration process.
The initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to encourage more businesses to operate within the formal economy, enhance job creation, and strengthen Nigeria’s MSME sector by removing one of the key barriers to business registration.
