Practice-based research initiatives have significantly expanded the role and scope of work of Notaries Public beyond the functions traditionally provided under the Notaries Public Act 2023.
Historically, the role of the Notary Public was largely limited to administering oaths, overseeing illiterate jurats, and notarising documents. However, contemporary developments have repositioned the Notary Public as a more dynamic legal professional within the justice and transactional framework.
Through these innovations, the Notary Public now performs broader functions, thereby expanding the scope of professional services and creating additional opportunities for income generation alongside legal practice. These functions include:
– Facilitating affidavit-based documentation of transactions, such as the use of affidavits of ownership and affidavits of sale in land transactions;
– Enhancing evidentiary integrity in legal and commercial dealings;
– Supporting preventive justice mechanisms by helping parties establish and preserve reliable documentary evidence before disputes arise; and
– Acting as a trusted intermediary in the authentication and transmission of documents, including through digital and online processes.
According to Arbiter Akintoye Sowemimo (April 2026), this transformation reflects a shift from a narrow, formalistic role to a more expansive professional function that contributes to legal certainty, transactional security, and efficient justice delivery.
His Honour Kingsley Sam Onwuka, MBA, MSc, PGD, BL, FICMC, JP
Notary Public