Hussaini Ishaq Magaji

Hussaini Ishaq Magaji SAN (born 2 August 1982) is a Nigerian lawyer and the 5th Registrar General and chief executive officer of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) of Nigeria, appointed by President Bola Tinubu on 13 October 2023. He made history as the first Senior Advocate of Nigeria to occupy the position of Registrar General of the CAC.

Early life and education

Magaji was born on 2 August 1982 in Shira Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria. He attended primary school in Jos, Plateau State from 1986 to 1992, before attending Government Science Secondary School, Toro, Bauchi State from 1992 to 1995 and Albayan Secondary School, Jos from 1996 to 1999.

He studied law at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria from 2001 to 2007, earning an LLB (Hons), and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2008 after attending the Nigerian Law School. He completed his mandatory NYSC scheme in Jos in 2009. He subsequently obtained a Master of Laws (LLM) from the University of Jos in 2012 and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) specialising in Finance and Investment from Bayero University, Kano in 2014.

Legal career

Magaji began his career as a Pupil State Counsel at the Bauchi State Ministry of Justice in 2009, rising to the rank of deputy director of Public Prosecution by 2020. In 2021, he was conferred with the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) by the Legal Practitioners Privileges Committee at the age of 39, becoming one of the youngest to receive the honour. He subsequently resigned from public service and established his own law firm, Ishaq Magaji SAN and Co, on 9 December 2021, before his CAC appointment.

Corporate Affairs Commission

On 13 October 2023, President Bola Tinubu appointed Magaji as the 5th Registrar General of the Corporate Affairs Commission, with immediate effect. He assumed office on 16 October 2023. Under his leadership the CAC integrated over 50 fintech companies into its registration portal, introduced AI for business name approval, and launched same-day premium registration services in line with global best practices.

Recognition

In October 2024, Magaji received the Distinguished Govtech Trailblazer's Award at the Nigeria Govtech Public Service Awards, while the CAC was recognised as the Best Federal MDA Digital Service Portal. He holds fellowship awards from the Nigeria Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSAN), the Business Recovery and Insolvency Practitioners of Nigeria (BRIPAN), and the Nigerian Institute of Credit Administration (NICA). In November 2024, the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Bar Association co-opted him as a NEC member for 2024 to 2026.