Create a bespoke document in minutes, or upload and review your own.
Get your first 2 documents free
Your data doesn't train Genie's AI
You keep IP ownership of your information
Board Minutes
I need board minutes for a quarterly board meeting, capturing key decisions, action items, and discussions on strategic initiatives, with a focus on financial performance and risk management. The document should be concise, accurately reflect the meeting's proceedings, and be ready for approval at the next board meeting.
What is a Board Minutes?
Board Minutes are the official written record of what happens during a company's board meetings in Nigeria. They capture key decisions, discussions, and votes made by directors, serving as the legal memory of corporate governance actions under the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA).
These records protect both the company and its directors by documenting compliance with legal duties and corporate policies. Good minutes include attendance, meeting dates, voting results, and resolutions passed. Nigerian courts often look to Board Minutes as evidence when resolving corporate disputes or verifying director accountability.
When should you use a Board Minutes?
Create Board Minutes during every board meeting to document crucial company decisions, from appointing new directors to approving major contracts. Under Nigerian law, maintaining accurate minutes helps protect your company when regulators conduct inspections or shareholders request information about board actions.
These records become especially important during corporate disputes, tax audits, or when seeking bank loans. Nigerian courts rely on Board Minutes to verify compliance with CAMA requirements. Having clear, detailed minutes ready helps demonstrate good governance and can shield directors from personal liability when tough decisions face scrutiny later.
What are the different types of Board Minutes?
- Company Minutes: Standard format for recording regular board decisions and discussions, typically used for routine governance matters
- Notice Agenda and Minutes: Comprehensive package combining meeting notification, planned topics, and final records - ideal for formal annual meetings
- Business Meeting Notice Agenda and Minutes: Enhanced version with detailed business planning sections, perfect for strategic planning sessions or major corporate decisions
Who should typically use a Board Minutes?
- Company Secretary: Responsible for drafting and maintaining Board Minutes, ensuring accuracy and proper filing under CAMA requirements
- Board Directors: Review, approve, and sign the minutes to confirm their accuracy as participants in the meetings
- Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC): May inspect minutes during regulatory compliance checks or investigations
- Shareholders: Have legal rights to access minutes to monitor board decisions affecting their investments
- External Auditors: Review minutes when assessing corporate governance and verifying major financial decisions
- Legal Counsel: Uses minutes as evidence in corporate disputes or when advising on governance matters
How do you write a Board Minutes?
- Meeting Details: Record date, time, location, and list of all attendees with their roles
- Agenda Items: Prepare a clear outline of topics discussed, following the meeting's agenda sequence
- Key Decisions: Document all resolutions passed, including voting results and any dissenting opinions
- Supporting Documents: Gather copies of reports, financial statements, or presentations referenced
- Signatures Required: Confirm Chairman and Company Secretary are available to sign the approved minutes
- Digital Tools: Use our platform to generate legally-compliant Board Minutes that meet CAMA requirements
- Filing System: Set up proper storage for both physical and electronic copies of the minutes
What should be included in a Board Minutes?
- Meeting Identification: Company name, meeting type, date, time, venue, and mode (physical/virtual)
- Attendance Record: Full names of directors present, absent with apologies, and other attendees
- Quorum Statement: Confirmation that required minimum directors were present per company's articles
- Previous Minutes: Confirmation of reading and approval of last meeting's minutes
- Resolution Details: Clear recording of all decisions made, including voting outcomes
- Financial Reports: Summary of any financial statements or reports presented
- Signature Block: Chairman's and Company Secretary's signatures with dates
- Page Numbering: Sequential numbering of all pages as required by CAMA
What's the difference between a Board Minutes and a Board Resolution?
Board Minutes are often confused with Board Resolution, but they serve distinct purposes in Nigerian corporate governance. While both documents relate to board decisions, their format, timing, and legal implications differ significantly.
- Documentation Scope: Board Minutes record everything discussed in a meeting, including debates and dissenting opinions, while Board Resolutions only capture final decisions
- Legal Status: Minutes serve as the official record of proceedings and can't be altered once approved, whereas Resolutions are standalone documents that formalize specific decisions
- Timing and Use: Minutes are created during/after meetings to document proceedings, while Resolutions can be passed with or without a formal meeting through circular resolutions
- External Recognition: Banks and regulatory bodies often request Board Resolutions for specific actions, but rely on Minutes for broader governance review
Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal
Genie’s Security Promise
Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.
Your documents are private:
We do not train on your data; Genie’s AI improves independently
All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation
Your documents are protected:
Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption
Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits
We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure
Organizational security
You retain IP ownership of your documents
You have full control over your data and who gets to see it
Innovation in privacy:
Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London
Together, we ran a £1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts
Want to know more?
Visit our Trust Centre for more details and real-time security updates.
Read our Privacy Policy.