President Tinubu

Author: Gist Correspondent

The Federal Government has commenced a nationwide programme offering 250,000 free business name registrations to eligible entrepreneurs as part of efforts to strengthen Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The initiative, approved by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is aimed at reducing the cost of formalising businesses and encouraging more entrepreneurs to operate within the formal economy.

According to the government, interested applicants can apply through the official Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) portal at portal.smedan.gov.ng.

Successful applicants will have their business names registered by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) at no cost.

The government stressed that the registration process is entirely free and warned prospective beneficiaries against fraudsters who may demand money or claim they can facilitate faster approval.

Entrepreneurs were advised not to make payments to individuals or organisations offering to secure slots under the programme, as no fee is required.

The Federal Government urged applicants to rely only on the official SMEDAN portal for registration and to avoid sharing personal information with unauthorised persons.

The initiative forms part of ongoing measures to improve access to business support services, promote entrepreneurship and enhance the growth of small businesses across the country.