The first form of legal personality recognized by Law is an Individual (that is a natural being).

A natural being is seen as a vehicle of commerce who can engage in any commercial activities.

Thus the name of a person can be used as a business name. Where a person carry out a business in his own surname, such person need not register or be license under Companies and Allied Matters Act. As the Law already recognized such person as a legal personality known to Law.

This is provided for in PART B of Companies and allied Matters Act.

However when a person is not using his natural name,such person must register it.

In OGUNMEFUN V.NIGERIA AIRWAYS LTD (1999), the court held that failure to register a business name which is not the natural name of a person would attract penalty.