Frequently Asked

• When are Annual Returns due for filing?

  A company’s first Annual Returns are due for filing after 18 months of its inception, subsequently it should be filed annually as the name implies. The filing dates could differ for each company depending on their financial year end but must be filed not later than 42 days after its Annual General Meeting.

  The Annual Returns for Business Names is due not later than the 30^th of June each year except in the year the business was registered.

• Do I need a Company Secretary?

  A limited liability company (LLC) must not have a company secretary.

• What is an execution clause in a contract?

  This is the section in which the parties sign the contract or agreement.

• If I have NAFDAC Registration number, do I still need SON registration number?

  SON Product Registration scheme is mandatory for all SON’s regulated products as mandated by SON Act 56 of 1971, 20 of 1984, 18 of 1990 as amended.

  This is irrespective of the registration done by NAFDAC

• What is personal data?

  This is any information that can be used to identify an identifiable human person such passport photograph.

• Will my trademark registration in Nigeria protect me worldwide?

  No, all intellectual property (IP) rights which includes trademarks are territorial, which means you are protected in the countries in which you register them.

• Can I process/register multiple products at NAFDAC at the same time?

  Yes, you can process/register multiple products at the same time

• What’s the difference between a business name and an LLC?

  • A business name is a sole proprietorship, usually owned and managed by one individual only. Legally, the sole proprietor and his business are one. It simply means an individual trading with an alias. The sole proprietor is personally liable for all business related obligations.

  • A limited liability company on the other hand is a separate business entity from the individuals that hold its shares and act as directors. Legally, it’s a separate business entity and a person on its own who can transact business, own property separate from its owners and can sue or be sued. 

• Can I trademark my logo and name separately? Why is this a good idea?

  Yes you can. The advantage is that it gives you the opportunity to have more than one logo or the opportunity to change your logo easily as opposed to registering the name and the logo as one trademark.