The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has announced a free business name registration initiative for 3,500 small businesses across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The Registrar-General of the commission, Hussaini Magaji, disclosed this on Monday via a post on the CAC’s official X handle. According to him, the initiative is aimed at reducing the cost of business formalisation for micro and small enterprises while encouraging entrepreneurs to operate within the formal economy.

Magaji said the move reflects the commission’s commitment to promoting entrepreneurship, lowering start-up costs, and supporting inclusive economic growth across the country.

“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 stated.

He explained that the programme is designed to help small businesses formalise their operations, giving them access to government services, 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 noted that the commission has evolved into a technology-driven agency with a strong focus on efficiency, transparency, and compliance with global best practices.

Magaji also revealed plans for a collaboration with Google, stating that the CAC would sign a partnership letter to strengthen its digital infrastructure and service delivery. The partnership, he said, is expected to improve portal performance and further enhance the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

In addition, he announced the launch of a redesigned CAC website featuring 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 reservation of scalable business names for entrepreneurs.