Registration, enforceability of contract a major challenge faced by entrepreneurs
L-R Damilola Ani, managing partner, The Different Practice; Odunoluwa Longe, co-founder, DIYlaw; T.O. Idowu, secretary, Alade Market Traders Association and Ngozi Oladipo, admin/growth rep., DIYLaw, at the flag-off of Market Circuit, a CSR Initiative of DIYLaw at Alade Market in Lagos recently.
Registration and enforceability of contract are critical challenges faced by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria said DIYlaw.
DIYlaw is a legal technology company that uses technology to create access to legal services in Nigeria and Africa as a whole. The start-up is currently in its public beta stage, and allows users to purchase registration packages online.
“In Nigeria, the processes for performing many business related registration are shrouded in mysteries and complexities” said Odunoluwa Longe, co- founder DIYlaw.
Speaking at the DIYLaw flag-off of Market Circuit, a CSR Initiative of aimed at providing free legal consultation for market traders held at Alade Market in Lagos recently, Longe said “a lot of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria is facing challenges with sustainable development occasioned by several factors, prominent of which is registration and enforceability of contract”
“Nigerians need legal structure for their businesses and even when these structures are there, it will help an individual to have seamless business registration process, increased formalised business, ability to access to finance, conflict mitigation and also legally empowered and enlightened entrepreneurs, that is what we do in this platform DIYlaw.
“Access to legal service is a major problem; this forum is to impact the Nigerian entrepreneur using 360 degree approach, we can provide a one stop hub for all thing legal” said Bola Olonisakin, co- founder DIYlaw.
Onyema Seyi, a legal practitioner and a consultant at the forum said, the platform will bring access to legal services for illiterates, non-internet users and low income earners.
According to her, most Nigerians are scared of going to lawyers or even having issues that involves lawyers, “i see this initiative as an opportunity to inform, educate and let people know their right and it brings legal services to everyone’s door step.
Some of the services or products offered by DIYlaw.ng include DIY Registrations, and DIY Documents product lines active. DIY Registrations automates business-related registration processes for users through the completion of a questionnaire and DIY Documents automates business and personal legal documents for users also by completing a questionnaire.
ANTHONIA OBOKOH