To start an orphanage in Nigeria, you register the organisation with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a non-profit, then get an operating licence from your State Ministry in charge of social welfare. You cannot legally run a children’s home — or admit any child — without both. Here is the full process, the documents you need, and what it costs.
An orphanage is a non-profit. It cares for orphans and vulnerable children — shelter, food, health, education, and protection — and is not set up to make money. Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Women Affairs estimates the country has millions of orphans and vulnerable children, so well-run homes are needed. But the sector is tightly regulated, and running an unlicensed home is a criminal offence.
Step 1: Register with the CAC (legal existence)
Your home must be a registered legal entity before any state licence is possible. Register it with the Corporate Affairs Commission as an Incorporated Trustees (a non-profit) under Part F of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.
- Create an account on the CAC portal and reserve a unique name (words like “Foundation” need the Registrar-General’s consent).
- Appoint at least two trustees (18+, of sound mind) and draft a constitution.
- Publish a notice in two national newspapers inviting objections — there is a 28-day window.
- Upload your documents, pay the fees, and CAC examines the application.
- CAC issues a Certificate of Registration and a registration number.
The 28-day publication makes this the slowest stage — budget about 6 to 8 weeks.
Step 2: Get a TIN and register with SCUML
After CAC, get a Tax Identification Number (TIN) from the FIRS and register with SCUML (the Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering, under the EFCC). Both are needed before a bank will open a corporate account for the organisation.
Step 3: Get your State operating licence (the real permission)
CAC registration makes your organisation legal; it does not let you run a home. For that you need a licence from the State Ministry responsible for social welfare, and the name differs by state:
- Lagos: Ministry of Youth and Social Development (Creches and Orphanages Unit).
- Most other states: Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.
You submit your CAC certificate and an application, then the ministry inspects the facility, vets your staff and child-protection policy, and — if satisfied — issues a licence. The licence must be renewed, and the ministry carries out periodic inspections.
Requirements to run an orphanage
To pass inspection and keep your licence, you need:
- A registered legal entity — CAC Incorporated Trustees, with a board of trustees and a constitution.
- A suitable facility — separate sleeping, eating, play, and study areas; safe, clean, not overcrowded, not flood-prone.
- Qualified, screened staff — trained caregivers and a social worker (mandatory in most states), plus access to medical care and counselling.
- A written child-protection (safeguarding) policy.
- Plans for feeding, healthcare, and education.
- Proper records — child records, admissions, and transparent financial accounts.
How children are admitted (this part is strict)
You cannot simply take in children. Admission must follow due legal process — usually a court order or a formal placement by the state welfare authority. Sourcing children yourself is illegal and is exactly what the crackdown on “baby factories” targets.
Documents you will need
For CAC: approved name reservation, constitution, trustees’ details with valid ID and passport photos, minutes of the meeting appointing trustees, the two newspaper publications, and a registered office address.
For the state ministry: your CAC Certificate of Incorporation, an application letter, proof of the facility (lease or ownership), a staff list with qualifications, your child-protection policy, and your feeding, health, and education plans.
How much does it cost?
| Item | Approx. cost |
|---|---|
| CAC name reservation | ₦500 – ₦5,000 |
| CAC incorporation of trustees | ₦30,000 |
| Newspaper publication (2 dailies) | ₦50,000 – ₦150,000 |
| Professional/legal fees (constitution, SCUML, filing) | ₦30,000 – ₦220,000 |
| Realistic all-in (CAC side) | ₦150,000 – ₦450,000+ |
State ministry licence fees are not published centrally and vary by state — confirm the exact figure with your own state ministry. On top of registration, the real cost is running the home: rent, food, staff salaries, healthcare, and schooling.
A note on state differences
Orphanages are licensed under each state’s Child’s Rights Law, so the ministry name, fees, and exact requirements differ from state to state. 34 of Nigeria’s 36 states have domesticated the Child Rights Act (Kano and Zamfara are the exceptions). The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs sets national standards but does not license individual homes — that is a state job. Enforcement is tightening: Lagos has been ordering unlicensed homes to comply or shut, and a bill to create a dedicated FCT orphanage regulator has been moving through the National Assembly.
Before you start
Learn the work first. Volunteer in a licensed home, get training in childcare or social work, and write a realistic budget for the first two years. An orphanage is a long-term commitment to children who depend on it — treat the licence and the standards as the floor, not the finish line.