Start & structureCooperativeNigeria
Register a cooperative society
Register a cooperative with the State Director/Registrar of Cooperatives: form the society & meet member minimums → apply → inspection & verification → letter of recognition.
- Procedure
- 4steps
- Coordination
- 4agencies
- Category
- Start & structureCooperative
Task links
Go to the exact next page
Application, requirements, forms, fees, and tracking are labelled separately.
Routing map
Who you will deal with
Founding membersState Ministry of Commerce/Trade & CooperativesState Department of CooperativesState Registrar of Cooperatives
Procedure
The steps, in order
Each route below is scoped to the step it can actually complete.
01 Form the society and meet member minimums
- Agency
- Founding members
- What is required
- Members (16+) with a common bond. Minimum members: 10 (general), 20 (savings/credit/thrift), 50 (agricultural).
- Documents
- Membership list; common bond; bye-laws draft
- Typical timeline
- Formation
02 Apply to the State Director of Cooperatives
- Agency
- State Ministry of Commerce/Trade & Cooperatives
- What is required
- Apply to the Director/Registrar of Cooperatives with the membership list, bye-laws, meeting minutes and financial plan; a name search confirms availability.
- Documents
- Membership list; bye-laws; minutes; financial plan
- Typical timeline
- Application stage
03 Inspection and verification
- Agency
- State Department of Cooperatives
- What is required
- Ministry officials inspect the society's premises; the name/logo stamp and documents are submitted for verification and approval.
- Documents
- Premises inspection; verified documents
- Typical timeline
- Scheduled
04 Letter of recognition (registration)
- Agency
- State Registrar of Cooperatives
- What is required
- If satisfied, the Director issues a certificate/letter of recognition authorising operation as a cooperative (typically valid ~3 years, renewable).
- Documents
- Satisfactory verification
- Typical timeline
- On approval