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If you are looking to register an NGO Nigeria in Nigeria, you are in the right place.
An NGO, or non-governmental organization, is a nonprofit organization that operates independently from the established structures of government.
NGOs can be registered in Nigeria as incorporated trustees under Part F of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020. A family member’s legacy can be preserved forever by starting an NGO. Additionally, it can be a great post-death wealth management choice. This is especially in circumstances when creating a will is most likely to result in disagreement before probate is granted.
This article discusses the overall process for registering an NGO in Nigeria under CAMA 2020 as it applies to starting an NGO.
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Contents
Steps to register an NGO in Nigeria
In Nigeria, an NGO is registered as an incorporated trustee. Any recognized activities that promote educational, cultural, religious, philanthropic, literary, sports, or scientific goals are functions of an incorporated trustee. An NGO must work to develop one or more of the seven activities in order to be registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The steps for registering an NGO are outlined below.
1. The preliminary step
The first step in registering an NGO in Nigeria is to organize a meeting of the NGO’s members. The meeting’s participants will appoint trustees for the NGO and approve the new association’s special clause.
Members can also approve the association’s constitution at the meeting. They can as well write about the organization’s principles, goals, and objectives. Members should include information about the organization’s overarching aims, planned activities, guiding values, etc. This should be done while developing the NGO’s mission and purpose statements.
A person must be at least 18 years old, of sound mind, and undischarged bankrupt. They should also have been convicted of a crime involving fraud or dishonesty within five years of the proposed appointment to be eligible for an appointment as a trustee.
2. Registration of an account with the CAC
After completing the above basic procedures, the next step is to visit the CAC website and create a profile for yourself. Fill out your name, address, email, phone number, and any other information requested by the CAC when creating the profile. Once this is completed, the CAC will provide you access to their platform using your email address and login password.
At this point, it should be noted that while the involvement of a lawyer to register an incorporated trustee is not required, it can be time-consuming, especially for those starting an NGO for the first time. If you are unable to accept the demand and be patient, it is recommended that you seek professional assistance.
3. Reservation of the NGO’s name
After registering an account with the CAC, log in to your profile and look for the “new name reservation” option. If you wish to reserve a name for an incorporated trustee, go to the name reservation page and select that option.
The CAC requires three names for bookings. When submitting names to the CAC, be as specific as possible. Names such as the “Kelvin John Women’s Association, the David Akpan Foundation, and the Association for the Fight Against Women Trafficking can be included. Names that include the phrases “limited liability,” “ventures,” “enterprise,” “group,” or “subsidiary” should be avoided.
Additionally, avoid using names that are overly broad, such as “Child Abuse Foundation.” Instead, choose titles that are as specific as possible, such as “The Foundation for the Prevention of Child Abuse.”
After submitting the three names, the CAC imposes a name reservation fee of 5,000 Naira. The CAC requires at least five working days to reserve the NGO’s name. If the CAC rejects the three recommended names, you will have to start over and pay additional money on reservation fees.
4. Public Notice
In accordance with CAMA, you or your lawyer must publish a notice of intention to register an NGO. That includes the organization’s name, trustees’ names, its goals and objectives, and a call for objections within 28 days of the NGO’s registration in three (3) national dailies. One of these must be a regional newspaper with a sizable readership in the area where the organization is based.
Public notice is an important part of registering an NGO. It seeks to provide notice to the general public so that they can object to the registration of the association if they have any vital reservations about it being registered. If an individual has reservations about the registration of an incorporated trustee, the individual would file a caveat with the CAC. This caveat states his reasons for the objection.
5. Drafting the Constitution and the Minutes of Meeting
During the 28-day wait period, take the opportunity to draft the NGO’s constitution. This should include the rules that will govern internal affairs, the NGO’s goals and objectives. More to this, the governance structure, the names of the members of the Board of Trustees, the statement of purpose, and so on.
You would also draft the minutes of the meeting conducted at the preliminary stage of the registration. The minutes of the meeting will include information about the appointment of members of the Board of Trustees, a list of those in attendance and those absent. More to his, the voting procedure, the members adopting the special clause, and the authority to apply for registration, duly signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the Board.
6. Documentation
All incorporation paperwork will be assembled 28 days after the newspaper publication. These will include the properly completed application form in triplicate (stamped by the commissioner for oath), a letter of application, the original newspaper articles, copies of the NGO constitution as written, the meeting minutes, passport-sized photos of the Trustees, and an impression of the NGO’s common seal. You must submit the required documentation to the Corporate Affairs Commission in order to establish the NGO.
7. Collection of Certificate
Following the completion of the necessary paperwork and filings, the Corporate Affairs Commission will issue the Certificate of Incorporation of the NGO. This is done to you through your CAC platform.
Conclusion
If you are looking to launch your NGO in Nigeria, we hope you now know how to register that NGO in Nigeria.
Before you start operating it, you need to understand that it is important to register your NGO in Nigeria. Most sponsors and partners feel more comfortable interacting with a registered association than an unregistered one.