Competition Terms and Conditions

1. Definitions

For the purposes of these Terms, the following definitions apply:

• "AkadaPlay" means AkadaPlay Technologies, the organiser of competitions conducted through its platform.
• "Competition" means any challenge, contest, art competition, academic quiz, innovation challenge, or similar event organised by AkadaPlay.
• "Participant" or "Entrant" means any eligible student or school who submits an entry to a Competition.
• "Entry" means any submission made by a Participant in response to a Competition brief, including but not limited to artwork, essays, videos, code, presentations, or other creative works.
• "School Coordinator" means the designated teacher or school official authorised to vet and submit entries on behalf of students.
• "Platform" means AkadaPlay's website (akadaplay.com) and any associated digital channels through which competitions are run.
• "Prizes" means cash awards, grants, certificates, or any other rewards offered to winners as specified in individual Competition briefs.

2. General Eligibility

The following eligibility conditions apply to any AkadaPlay competition unless the specific brief states otherwise:

2.1 Student Status

• Competitions are open to currently enrolled primary and secondary school students (both public and private schools) unless the specific brief explicitly extends eligibility to other groups.
• Each Competition brief will specify the eligible school district(s), state(s), or geographic scope. Participants must attend a school within the stated eligibility zone.
• Proof of enrolment may be requested at any stage of the competition.

2.2 Academic Standing

• As stated in the Competition brief, participants must have achieved a minimum academic average in their most recent academic session (typically 60% or higher).
• Proof of academic standing such as a school-stamped report card may be required as part of the submission.
• AkadaPlay reserves the right to verify academic standing with the relevant school or educational authority.

2.3 School Data Compliance

• Schools with a data submission rate below the threshold specified in the Competition brief (where applicable) may be excluded from eligibility.
• AkadaPlay reserves the right to update eligibility thresholds ahead of each competition cycle.

2.4 Age

• There is no specific age cap beyond the requirement to be a currently enrolled primary or secondary school student, unless otherwise stated in the Competition brief.
• Where participants are under 18, a parent or guardian must consent to participation and agree to these Terms on their behalf.

2.5 Disqualification Grounds

Any participant found to have misrepresented their eligibility status will be immediately disqualified and any prize forfeited.

3. Registration & School Nomination

• Every entry must be nominated, vetted, and formally submitted by an authorised School Coordinator (a teacher or school official).
• Self-submitted entries without School Coordinator endorsement will not be accepted.
• The number of candidates each school may nominate per Competition will be stated in the relevant Competition brief.
• Registration dates, deadlines, and the method of submission will be published on the AkadaPlay Platform for each Competition.
• By nominating a student, the School Coordinator confirms that the student meets all stated eligibility criteria.

4. Submission Requirements

Specific submission requirements — including required formats, file types, supporting evidence, and deadlines — will be detailed in each Competition brief. The following general conditions apply to all competitions:

4.1 Originality

• All entries must be 100% original works created solely by the Participant.
• Entries must not have been previously published, submitted to other competitions, or created with the substantial assistance of an adult or AI tool in a way that misrepresents the Participant's own effort.
• Participants may be required to provide process documentation (e.g., photos, videos, drafts, and timestamps) to verify originality.

4.2 Accuracy and Completeness

• Incomplete submissions will be disqualified. Participants must submit all components listed in the Competition brief.
• All supporting evidence (e.g., report cards, process photos, pitch videos) must be accurate, unaltered, and submitted in the format specified.

4.3 Deadlines

• All submissions must be received by AkadaPlay before the final deadline specified in the Competition brief (11:59 PM on the deadline date, Nigerian time).
• Late submissions will not be accepted under any circumstances unless AkadaPlay announces an official extension.

4.4 Language

Unless stated otherwise, all text components of an Entry must be submitted in English.

5. Intellectual Property & Content Rights

5.1 Ownership

Participants retain ownership of the intellectual property in their Entry.

5.2 Licence Granted to AkadaPlay

By submitting an Entry, each Participant (and their parent/guardian where applicable) grants AkadaPlay a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual licence to use, reproduce, display, publish, adapt, and share the Entry and the Participant's name, image, school, and likeness for the purpose of:

• Promoting the Competition and AkadaPlay's programmes;
• Displaying entries on AkadaPlay's platform, social media channels, and marketing materials;
• Educational, press, and non-commercial reporting purposes.

5.3 Prohibited Content

• Entries must not contain content that is defamatory, offensive, discriminatory, obscene, plagiarised, or in violation of any applicable law.
• Entries that incorporate third-party copyrighted material must have all necessary permissions secured by the Participant prior to submission.
• AkadaPlay reserves the right to remove or disqualify any Entry that it reasonably determines violates this clause.

6. Judging & Results

6.1 Judging Panel

• Each Competition will be judged by a panel appointed by AkadaPlay. The composition of the panel will be published in the Competition brief or announced separately.
• Judges' decisions are final and binding. No correspondence, appeals, or disputes regarding judging outcomes will be entered into.

6.2 Judging Criteria

• The specific criteria and their weightings will be published for each Competition. General factors may include creativity, technical skill, thematic relevance, and presentation quality.
• Where a public vote is incorporated into the judging process, the weighting of the public vote versus the judges' scores will be stated in the Competition brief.

6.3 Public Voting (Where Applicable)

• Where public voting is part of a Competition, AkadaPlay reserves the right to disqualify votes that it reasonably believes are fraudulent, automated, or otherwise in breach of fair competition principles.
• Participants must not engage in vote manipulation, including but not limited to purchasing votes, using bots, or coordinating mass-voting schemes.

6.4 Results Announcement

• Results will be announced on or before the Official Competition End Date stated in the Competition brief, via AkadaPlay's platform and official communication channels.
• All announced results are subject to verification of eligibility and compliance with these Terms.

7. Prizes & Rewards

7.1 Prize Details

• Prize values and types for each Competition are specified in the respective Competition brief.
• Prizes are non-transferable, and no cash alternative will be offered unless AkadaPlay determines otherwise in writing.

7.2 Prize Distribution

• Cash prizes for student winners will be disbursed through the student's School Coordinator or a verified parental/guardian bank account, as AkadaPlay shall determine.
• School grants will be disbursed directly to the winning school and may take the form of cash or non-cash items (including but not limited to textbooks, laboratory equipment, computers, art supplies, sports gear, musical instruments, furniture, stationery) and must be used exclusively for the stated purpose (e.g., ICT, library, renovation). The school will be required to provide auditable evidence of expenditure.
• AkadaPlay reserves the right to withhold a prize if the winner cannot be contacted within 30 days of announcement, or if the winner is found to have breached these Terms.

7.3 Tax & Deductions

Participants are responsible for any applicable taxes, levies, or charges on prizes in accordance with Nigerian law. AkadaPlay will comply with all applicable withholding tax obligations.

8. Participant Conduct & Fair Play

• Participants must engage with all aspects of the competition honestly, ethically, and in the spirit of fair play.
• Participants must not collude, cheat, impersonate others, submit fraudulent documentation, or engage in any activity that undermines the integrity of the Competition.
• Harassment, bullying, or disrespectful conduct towards other participants, judges, AkadaPlay staff, or the public will result in immediate disqualification.
• Any attempt to hack, disrupt, or interfere with the AkadaPlay Platform or the competition infrastructure will be reported to the relevant authorities.
• AkadaPlay reserves the right to disqualify any Participant at its sole discretion if it reasonably believes that the Participant has acted in breach of these Terms or in a manner that is detrimental to the competition or AkadaPlay's reputation.

9. Data Privacy & Protection

• AkadaPlay collects and processes personal data (including names, school details, images, and contact information) in accordance with applicable Nigerian data protection legislation, including the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023.
• Data collected in connection with a Competition will be used solely for the purposes of administering the Competition, communicating with participants, and (where consent is given) promoting AkadaPlay's activities.
• AkadaPlay will not sell personal data to third parties. Data may be shared with trusted partners solely for operational purposes (e.g., prize disbursement).
• Participants (and parents/guardians of minors) have the right to access, rectify, or request deletion of their personal data by contacting AkadaPlay at info@akadaplay.com.
• By participating, you consent to AkadaPlay photographing, filming, or recording the Competition process and using such materials for promotional purposes. You may withdraw this consent in writing at any time, though withdrawal will not affect prior usage.

10. Limitation of Liability

• AkadaPlay will not be liable for any loss, damage, or injury suffered by a Participant in connection with a Competition except to the extent caused by AkadaPlay's gross negligence or wilful misconduct.
• AkadaPlay is not responsible for late, lost, incomplete, or corrupted submissions resulting from technical failures, internet outages, or circumstances beyond its reasonable control.
• AkadaPlay reserves the right to modify, suspend, or cancel a Competition at any time due to circumstances beyond its control (force majeure), including but not limited to natural disasters, pandemics, government directives, or technical failures. In such cases, AkadaPlay will communicate with participants as promptly as practicable.
• Participants are responsible for ensuring that their submission equipment, internet access, and software are adequate for participation.

11. Amendments to These Terms

• AkadaPlay reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time. Any material amendments that affect ongoing competitions will be communicated to registered participants via email or through the Platform.
• Continued participation following notification of amendments constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

12. Disputes & Governing Law

• These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
• Any dispute arising from or in connection with these Terms or a Competition shall first be resolved through good-faith negotiation between the parties. If unresolved within 30 days, disputes shall be referred to arbitration under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act (ACA) Cap A18, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.
• Nothing in this clause limits a party's right to seek urgent injunctive relief from a competent court.

13. Contact Information

For queries regarding these Terms or any AkadaPlay Competition, please contact us: