REGISTERING A SCHOOL WITH CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) Starting up a standard school in Nigeria is not as simple as people think, except you want to start- up a sub-standard school. Everybody wants to enroll his or child in a school that has a good learning environment, standard both academically and other wise. To start up a school in Nigeria, the first step to take is to get the school registered with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). How do you get this done? Step one: Conduct a name search to see if the proposed name you want to use is available. You must have 2 unique names you will submit as the proposed names, but only one out of the 2 names will be approved. When the name has been approved it will be reserved for you for 60days. Step two: Having the desired name approved, you move to the stage of entering the data of the school owners. This stage is known as registration stage. Depending on the type of school you wish to start-up, if it’s just crèche, Nursery and Primary School it’s advisable to register it under Business name also known as Enterprise. But if you wish to include a secondary school to the list, the law is that it must be registered as a Limited Liability Company. Either way you wish to go whether Business name or Limited Liability, the steps are below; How to Register Business name What are the steps you need to take to register your business or enterprise? 1. Conduct an availability name search. Get two unique names of your choice e.g combination of your surname and your first name or combination of your children names. It all depends on your choice. If you are in any of these States Lagos, Kano, Rivers and Abuja, the name search and everything about registration can be done online by clicking on
to www.cac.gov.ng but in other States you can walk into Corporate Affairs Commission office and they will conduct the name search for you. •
If any of the names submitted is available for you, you then go online and commence registration by entering the availability code on your Notice of Approval. Once you are through with filling the registration forms and making payment you print the forms and receipt of payment.
•
Then next you go to document upload section of the site and upload the forms with your passport attached, the payment receipt, Notice of Approval together with your means of identification eg Driver’s license, Voters card, International passport or National ID card.
•
After the upload click on the submit button. You will only go to the site to check if your certificate is out. Once you see your Business Number you will know that the certificate is ready. Go to the CAC office to collect your certificate.
•
If you are not in any of the states mentioned above, after the name search, go back to CAC office buy the registration forms after filling the forms attach your passport proceed to the bank to make payment, after the payment you submit the forms and the payment teller or receipt, the notice of approval, means of identification to CAC office (NB: you will have to generate Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) code which shall be used for the payment).
•
Once the form is submitted, you go to CAC office one week after to check if the certificate is out. If the certificate is out, you sign and collect your certificate.
How to Register a Limited Liability Company 1. If any of the names submitted is available for you, you then go online and commence registration by entering the availability code on your Notice of Approval. Once you are through with filling the registration forms and making payment, next is getting the forms stamped electronically by the FIRS once that is done, you print the stamped forms and receipt of payment. •
Then next you go to document upload section of the site and upload the signed forms , the payment receipt , Notice of Approval together with directors and shareholders means of identification eg Driver’s license, Voters card, International passport or National ID card.
•
After the upload click on the submit button. You will only go to the site to check if your certificate is out. Once you see your Registered Company (RC) Number you will know that the certificate is ready. Go to the CAC office to collect your certificate.
•
If you are not in any of the states mentioned above, after the name search, go back to CAC office buy the registration forms after filling the forms, prepare your Memorandum and Article of Association (MEMART). Proceed to the bank to make payment for filing and stamp duty after the payment, take the Memorandum and Article of Association to stamp duty office of the FIRS for stamping. After the stamping, you then submit the forms,
stamped MEMART and the payment teller or receipt, the notice of approval ,photocopies of means of identification of the directors and shareholders to CAC office (NB: you will have to generate Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) code which shall be used for the payment). •
Once the form is submitted, you go to CAC office one week after to check if the certificate is out. If the certificate is out, you sign and collect your certificate.
In addition to the steps listed one of the proprietor in the case of a business name or a Director in the case of a Limited Liability Company must have a certificate in Education ie he or she must be a certified teacher for the registration to be approved.
For assistance and enquiries, contact us Email: info@verazadvocates.com.ng Call:08035492685. Whatsapp: 09054440156. Facebook: facebook.com/verazadvocates