Introduction
As you plan to register a church in Nigeria, this detailed article on how to register a church in Nigeria will provide the much-needed information.
In this article, we would show you the step by step procedure to register a church in Nigeria as well as the requirements for registration.
If you have any question, please feel free to contact us or leave a comment and be sure your questions would be answered.
What Is A Church?
A church is an association of Christians who share a common belief and are willing to continue to associate together for different purposes.
If you intend registering a church, the best and only suitable option will be to register as an incorporated Trustees. The reason is that churches are organized as non-profit making organizations. Unlike companies and business names registration, incorporated trustees are not liable to pay taxes.
Procedure To Register A Church In Nigeria
Churches are registered as Incorporated Trustees and the procedure and requirements are the same as other NGOs registered as Incorporated Trustees in Nigeria. Similar organizations to churches are charity organizations, Civil Society Organizations, Pressure Groups, Clubs and Alumni Association.
Here are the steps to registering a church
Name Search
The registration of a church starts with a name search. This is usually the first hurdle that must be crossed. The proposed name must be one that is not misleading, confusing or vague as to the nature of the activities of the church. The name must also not have already been used by another church or similar organization. It must also not bear a resemblance with an existing church or organization.
The Meeting of The Members
It is important that the members of the proposed church should have a meeting and appoint the trustees, the chairman and the secretary of the church.
The minutes of the meeting would be drafted and it must contain the names of those in attendance as well as the names of the appointed officials and the voting pattern. Also, the minutes of the meeting must indicate that the application for registration of the church was approved at the meeting.
The Newspaper publication
Once the name search has been conducted and a name is approved, it would be reserved for sixty days within which the church is to take steps towards registration. The next step would be to publish their intention to register the church in one local and one national newspaper. The publication would include the name of the church about to be registered, the aims and objectives and the names of the appointed officials.
The purpose of the advert is to notify members of the public of the intention to register the church. This is done in order that if anyone has an objection to the registration, such objection can be brought to the notice of the Corporate Affairs Commission.
The period for filing an objection is 28 days from the date of the publication. Where there is no objection, the appointed officials can go ahead to submit their application for the registration of the church.
The Application to register the church
At the end of the 28 days from the date of the newspaper publications, the church officials would then be required to fill and sign all application documents and attach their passport photographs. Each trustee is also expected to fill an oath form which would be signed either in the presence of a commissioner for oaths or a notary public.
The church is also to obtain a common seal which would be used as a symbol of its authorization in all circumstances.
Afterwards, all documents would be submitted through the CRP portal of the corporate affairs commission for review and approval.
Once approved, the commission would issue a certificate of registration to the church.
Required Details To Register A Church
- Three Name Options for the Church (One will serve as an alternative in case the other one gets denied.)
- – Names, Address, Email Address, Phone Numbers, Scanned Valid ID, Passport Photograph of the appointed Trustees and specimen of signature.
- – Names, , Email Address, Phone Numbers, Scanned Valid ID and Passport Photographs of Chairman and Secretary
- –Church’s Constitution
- – Minutes of the Statutory Meeting
- Application Letter for registration
- – Newspaper Publications in two newspapers
- – Application Letter
- – Common Seal of the Church
