Terms and Conditions

• "Podium," "we," "us," "our" — Podium Technologies, a business registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) of Nigeria, operator of the Podium platform.
• "Organizer" — a user who creates and manages an event on the Platform, such as a school, religious body, community organization, or an individual acting on behalf of one.
• "Voter" — any person who casts a vote (free or paid) for a contestant in an event.
• "Contestant" / "Nominee" — a person or entry listed in an event that Voters may vote for.
• "Event" — a voting or fundraising campaign created on the Platform, including but not limited to school competitions, pageants, talent shows, award ceremonies, gaming and esports tournaments, and community fundraisers.

1. To make any payment on the Platform (including purchasing votes), you must be at least 18 years old, or have the consent and supervision of a parent or legal guardian.
2. Organizers must be at least 18 years old and, where acting on behalf of an organization, must be duly authorized to represent that organization.
3. By using the Platform, you confirm that all information you provide is accurate and that you are legally capable of entering into these Terms.

1. Organizers must create an account to use the Platform. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activity under your account.
2. Podium offers the following plans:
   • Free Plan: Organizers may create up to five (5) events, each with up to five (5) categories and thirty (30) nominees. A commission of ten percent (10%) applies to every paid voting transaction on events created under this plan.
   • Pro Plan: A commission of five percent (5%) applies to every paid voting transaction on events created under this plan, along with the additional features described on our pricing page.
3. Podium may modify plan limits, features, or commission rates from time to time. Changes will not apply retroactively to transactions already completed, and the commission rate on an event is fixed at the time that event is created.

1. Organizers are solely responsible for the content, accuracy, and conduct of their events, including contestant lists, event descriptions, categories, and timelines.
2. When creating an event, the Organizer chooses whether voting is free or paid:
   • Free voting: Voters may vote at no cost, subject to any limits set by the Organizer or the Platform.
   • Paid voting: Each vote carries a fixed price in Nigerian Naira (₦) set by the Organizer. Voters pay at checkout through our payment processor.
3. Contestant eligibility criteria, category rules, and event outcomes are determined solely by the Organizer. Podium does not select winners and does not influence voting outcomes.
4. Vote counts displayed on the Platform reflect validly recorded votes. Podium reserves the right to exclude votes it reasonably determines to be fraudulent (see Section 8).

1. All payments on the Platform are processed by our third-party payment processor (currently Paystack). By making a payment, you also agree to the payment processor's terms of service.
2. For each paid voting transaction, Podium deducts the applicable commission (10% on the Free Plan, 5% on the Pro Plan) plus any payment-processing fees, and the remaining balance is credited to the Organizer's event balance.
3. Payouts to Organizers are made to the bank account details provided by the Organizer. Organizers are responsible for the accuracy of their payout details.
4. For security, payouts are protected by measures including email verification and a payout PIN. Podium may delay or withhold a payout while it investigates suspected fraud, chargebacks, or violations of these Terms.
5. Organizers are responsible for any taxes, levies, or reporting obligations arising from funds they receive through the Platform.

1. All paid votes are final and non-refundable. A vote is a voluntary contribution in support of a contestant and/or the fundraising cause behind an event; it is not a purchase of goods or services and does not entitle the Voter to any outcome.
2. As an exception, where a payment is charged but the corresponding vote is not recorded due to a technical failure on our side, we will, upon verification, either record the vote or refund the affected transaction.
3. Refunds are not provided because a preferred contestant did not win, because an event was extended, rescheduled, or cancelled by the Organizer, or because of dissatisfaction with an Organizer's conduct. Claims of that nature should be directed to the Organizer.

1. Podium does not offer, fund, guarantee, or administer any monetary prize or reward tied to voting outcomes.
2. All proceeds from an event (after commission and processing fees) belong to the Organizer. Any decision to award prizes to winners is made solely by the Organizer, and any such prizes are handled entirely off the Platform.
3. Organizers are solely responsible for fulfilling any promises, prizes, or fundraising commitments they make to contestants, voters, or their communities. Podium is not a party to those arrangements.
4. The Platform may not be used for gambling, betting, lotteries, raffles, or any game of chance. Voting on Podium is an expression of support, not a wager, and confers no chance of financial return to the Voter.

You agree not to:

1. Cast or attempt to cast votes using stolen payment instruments, unauthorized accounts, or fraudulent means.
2. Use bots, scripts, automation, or multiple accounts to manipulate vote counts or circumvent rate limits.
3. Create events that are unlawful, deceptive, or misrepresent their purpose or beneficiary.
4. Harass, defame, or infringe the rights of contestants, organizers, or other users.
5. Interfere with the security or operation of the Platform, including attempting to bypass verification measures.

Podium employs anti-fraud measures including rate limiting and transaction monitoring. We may void votes, freeze balances, suspend or terminate accounts, and report unlawful activity to relevant authorities where we reasonably suspect a violation of this section.

1. Organizers retain ownership of the content they upload (event descriptions, images, contestant details) but grant Podium a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to display and distribute that content as needed to operate and promote the Platform.
2. Organizers confirm they have the necessary rights and consents for all content they upload, including the consent of contestants to be listed and displayed publicly.
3. The Podium name, logo, and platform design are the property of Podium and may not be used without our written permission.

1. The Platform is provided "as is" and "as available." While we work to keep the Platform secure and reliable, we do not guarantee uninterrupted or error-free operation.
2. Podium is a technology platform connecting Organizers and Voters. We are not the organizer of any event and make no representations about any event, contestant, cause, or the use of funds by an Organizer.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Podium's total liability to any user arising out of or in connection with the Platform shall not exceed the total commissions earned by Podium from the transactions giving rise to the claim. Podium shall not be liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential losses, including loss of goodwill, opportunity, or expected winnings or prizes.

Organizers agree to indemnify and hold Podium harmless from claims, losses, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from their events, their content, their use of event proceeds, or their breach of these Terms.

1. We may suspend or terminate access to the Platform for any account that violates these Terms, poses a fraud or security risk, or is required to be restricted by law or by our payment processor.
2. Organizers may close their account at any time. Closure does not affect obligations already accrued, including pending disputes or chargebacks.

Our collection and use of personal data is described in our Privacy Policy, which forms part of these Terms. We process payment data through our payment processor and do not store full card details on our servers.

We may update these Terms from time to time. The "Last updated" date above reflects the latest version. Material changes will be communicated through the Platform or by email. Continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.

These Terms are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Any dispute arising from these Terms or the Platform shall first be addressed through good-faith negotiation with our support team; failing resolution, disputes shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Nigeria.