Lesson 1: Verifying a new partner

Verification is standard practice in international trade. You would check a new U.S. customer's credit before extending terms. Checking a new overseas partner is the same habit, applied with care.

Start with the official registry. In Nigeria, companies register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). The CAC offers a public search on its website, where you can look up a company by name or registration number. Check that:

• The company name matches exactly, including spelling and suffix (for example "Limited" or "Ltd").

• The registration number the partner gives you matches the registry record.

• The registered address is consistent with what the partner has told you.

• The company's status appears active.

Then add a few more checks:

• Meet on video before the first transaction. Put names to faces and confirm roles.

• Check the email domain. A company email domain that matches the company's website is a good sign. Many legitimate small firms do use free email services, so treat this as one signal among several.

• Ask for references from other suppliers or buyers, and contact them yourself.

• Ask your trade advisors. U.S. export counselors and your bank may offer due diligence services or guidance.

Example: requesting registration details.

Dear Mr. Adeyemi,

Thank you for the productive call yesterday. We look forward to working with your team.

As part of our standard onboarding for all new partners, could you share your company's full registered name and CAC registration number? We are glad to share our own registration details with you in return.

Kind regards,

Emily Foster

**Say it this way:** "As part of our standard onboarding for all new partners..." This phrase presents verification as routine, not as suspicion.

This message follows the "Requesting company registration details" template in the Template Library (Material #8).