How many NGOs and charities are there in Nigeria, and who registers them?
GiveRadar tracks 15,451 charities, nonprofits and NGOs in Nigeria. They come from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Nigeria's general corporate registry, which keeps the Register of Incorporated Trustees. This is a register of legally incorporated organizations, not a list vetted for charitable quality.
The main nonprofit legal form is the incorporated trustee, registered under Part F of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020, in which named trustees hold the organization's property. A company limited by guarantee is an alternative form. Registration gives corporate personality and a registration number; it does not confer tax-exempt status.
What does CAC registration mean, and what does it not?
CAC registration means an organization has been incorporated and its objects checked as lawful, not that a government body endorsed its work. The Commission confers corporate personality and regulates the entity; it does not assess effectiveness, governance or trustworthiness.
Income-tax-exempt status is a separate determination made by the Nigeria Revenue Service under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025. Some higher-risk nonprofits must also register with SCUML for anti-money-laundering compliance, which again is a compliance step, not a charitable quality mark.
Are donations to Nigerian charities tax-deductible?
For companies, documented donations to qualifying charitable, religious, educational or scientific bodies are deductible up to 10% of profit before tax under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025. The claim is subject to review by the tax authority, and the recipient's status matters.
There is no general personal-income deduction for individual donors, and CAC registration alone does not make a gift deductible. Confirm an organization's current tax treatment with the Nigeria Revenue Service before assuming relief applies.
How do you check a Nigerian nonprofit or NGO before you donate?
Check a Nigerian nonprofit in the Corporate Affairs Commission public register before giving, using its exact name or registration number. A professional website or a familiar name is not a substitute for confirming incorporation and current status.
- Search the CAC public register to confirm the organization exists and see its trustees.
- For tax-deductible giving, confirm its status separately with the Nigeria Revenue Service.
- Note whether it holds a SCUML certificate if it operates in a higher-risk area.
- Read the organization's own reports and donation terms. See GiveRadar's integrity score methodology for what each data point proves.
Is there a quality mark for Nigerian NGOs?
Nigeria has no universal statutory charity quality mark, but the Nigeria Network of NGOs runs a voluntary self-regulation scheme. Members subscribe to a harmonized nonprofit code of conduct covering governance and accountability.
Membership and the code are voluntary and are not a government determination of quality, so treat them as a positive signal rather than proof. The clearest official facts remain incorporation with the CAC and, separately, tax-exempt status with the Nigeria Revenue Service.
How can you donate to charities and causes in Nigeria?
Nigeria offers direct giving to registered nonprofits working in community development, health, education, religion and social services. Choose a cause deliberately, verify the recipient and use only payment details the organization itself publishes.
- Explore Nigerian nonprofits by cause, such as the health charities directory, and compare organizations serving the outcome you value.
- Confirm the recipient's CAC registration number and, where relevant, its tax status.
- Give through the organization's confirmed bank details or a secure, published payment channel.
- Keep the receipt. See GiveRadar's guidance for donors for more checks.