1. Introduction & Acceptance
Welcome to Coopie (“Platform”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), a multi-tenant cooperative management software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform operated by Coopie Technologies Limited, a company registered under the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the Coopie platform, including all websites, applications, APIs, and related services. By creating an account, accessing, or using any part of the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms.
If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must not access or use the Platform. These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Coopie Technologies Limited under Nigerian law.
2. Definitions
In these Terms, the following words and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to them:
- “Platform” means the Coopie web application, APIs, and all related services provided by Coopie Technologies Limited.
- “User” means any individual who creates an account on or accesses the Platform.
- “Member” means a User who has been accepted into one or more Cooperatives on the Platform.
- “Cooperative” means a registered cooperative society or group that uses the Platform to manage its operations.
- “Administrator” means a Member with elevated privileges (ADMIN or SUPER_ADMIN role) who manages a Cooperative’s settings, members, and financial operations on the Platform.
- “Contribution” means any monetary payment made by a Member to their Cooperative, whether mandatory or voluntary.
- “Loan” means any credit facility extended to a Member by their Cooperative through the Platform.
- “Dividend” means any distribution of surplus or earnings declared by a Cooperative and allocated to its Members.
- “Service” means any feature, function, or capability provided by the Platform.
- “Transaction” means any financial operation recorded on the Platform, including contributions, loan disbursements, repayments, and dividend payments.
- “KYC” means Know Your Customer, referring to identity verification processes required by Nigerian regulations.
3. Service Description
Coopie is a multi-tenant SaaS platform that provides cooperative societies with digital tools for managing their operations. The Platform offers the following core services:
- Member Management: Registration, profile management, role assignment, and membership tracking across cooperatives.
- Contribution Management: Setup of contribution types (mandatory and voluntary), tracking of member payments, pledge management, and payment status monitoring.
- Loan Management: Loan product configuration, application processing, guarantor management, disbursement tracking, and repayment scheduling.
- Dividend Management: Declaration, computation, and distribution tracking of annual dividends based on member contributions.
- Notification System: Email, SMS, and in-app notifications for transactions, approvals, and cooperative communications.
- Analytics & Reporting: Dashboards, financial summaries, and reports for both members and administrators.
- Multi-Cooperative Support: Users may belong to multiple cooperatives, with data isolation between each cooperative.
Coopie acts as a technology provider and does not hold, manage, or disburse funds on behalf of any Cooperative or Member. All financial transactions are between Cooperatives and their Members, facilitated through third-party payment processors.
4. Eligibility
To use the Platform, you must:
- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement under Nigerian law.
- Provide accurate and complete registration information.
- Not have been previously suspended or removed from the Platform for violating these Terms.
Cooperatives using the Platform must be duly registered entities under the Cooperative Societies Act or relevant state cooperative laws of Nigeria. The individual registering a Cooperative on the Platform must have the authority to bind that Cooperative to these Terms.
5. Account Registration & Security
To access the Platform, you must register an account using a valid email address and password. You are responsible for:
- Maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials.
- All activities that occur under your account.
- Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.
The Platform enforces a single active session policy. Only one session may be active per user account at any time. Sessions are managed via JSON Web Tokens (JWT) with a 30-day expiration period. Logging in on a new device will invalidate any existing session.
We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that we reasonably believe have been compromised, are being used fraudulently, or are in violation of these Terms.
6. Multi-Tenant Cooperative Membership
The Platform operates on a multi-tenant architecture where each Cooperative functions as an independent tenant with isolated data. Key aspects of membership include:
- Joining Cooperatives: Members may join Cooperatives through invitation by an Administrator or by requesting membership, subject to the Cooperative’s approval process.
- Multiple Memberships: A User may be a Member of more than one Cooperative. Each membership is independent, with separate financial records, roles, and obligations.
- Data Isolation: Data belonging to one Cooperative is not accessible to another Cooperative. Administrators can only view and manage data within their own Cooperative.
- Membership Roles: Members are assigned roles within each Cooperative: MEMBER (standard), EXECUTIVE (committee member), ADMIN (cooperative administrator), or SUPER_ADMIN (platform administrator). Each role carries specific privileges and responsibilities.
- Cooperative-Specific Rules: Each Cooperative may establish its own bye-laws, contribution schedules, loan terms, and operational rules. Members are bound by the rules of each Cooperative they belong to.
7. Financial Transactions: Contributions
Cooperatives may define multiple contribution types, including mandatory monthly contributions and voluntary savings. The following applies:
- Contribution Types: Each Cooperative defines its own contribution types, amounts, and schedules. These may include mandatory monthly savings, voluntary additional contributions, and special-purpose funds.
- Payment Methods: Contributions may be made via bank transfer, payroll deduction (where available), or through integrated payment processors such as Paystack.
- Payment Status: Contributions are tracked with statuses including Pending, Confirmed, Failed, and Reversed. Members should verify their contribution records regularly.
- Pledges: Members may create contribution pledges committing to future payments. Pledges are tracked separately from actual contributions.
Coopie is a technology provider that facilitates the recording and tracking of contributions. Coopie does not hold, manage, or have custody of contribution funds. All funds are managed directly by the Cooperatives and their designated financial institutions.
8. Financial Transactions: Loans
Cooperatives may offer loan products to their Members through the Platform. The following terms apply:
- Loan Products: Each Cooperative defines its own loan products with specific terms, interest rates, maximum amounts, and eligibility criteria.
- Application Workflow: Loan applications follow a structured workflow: Application → Guarantor Approval → Administrative Review → Approval/Rejection → Disbursement → Repayment.
- Guarantor System: Most loan products require guarantors who are existing Members of the same Cooperative. Guarantors must accept responsibility for a portion of the loan. By serving as a guarantor, you agree to honour the financial obligation if the borrower defaults.
- Loan Statuses: Loan applications progress through various statuses including Pending, Under Review, Approved, Disbursed, Active, Paid, and Defaulted.
- Eligibility Rules: Loan eligibility may depend on factors such as membership duration, contribution history, existing loan obligations, and the Cooperative’s specific rules.
- Penalties: Late payments or defaults may incur penalties as defined by the Cooperative’s loan terms and bye-laws.
All loan terms, interest rates, and conditions are determined by each Cooperative in accordance with their bye-laws and applicable Nigerian regulations. Coopie facilitates the loan management process but does not underwrite, fund, or guarantee any loans.
9. Financial Transactions: Dividends
Cooperatives may declare and distribute dividends to their Members based on the Cooperative’s financial performance and bye-laws:
- Declaration: Dividends are declared by Cooperative Administrators in accordance with the Cooperative’s rules and applicable regulations.
- Computation: Dividend amounts are typically computed based on each Member’s contribution history during the relevant period.
- Distribution: Dividend payments are processed through the Cooperative’s chosen payment channels.
Coopie facilitates the recording, computation, and tracking of dividends only. The actual payment of dividends is the responsibility of each Cooperative. Coopie does not guarantee dividend payments or amounts.
10. Payment Processing & Fees
The Platform integrates with third-party payment processors, including Paystack, to facilitate financial transactions. The following terms apply:
- Third-Party Processors: Payment processing is handled by licensed third-party providers. By using payment features, you also agree to the terms and conditions of the applicable payment processor.
- Subscription Fees: Cooperatives may be subject to subscription fees based on their chosen service tier. Fee schedules are published on the Platform and may be updated with prior notice.
- Processing Fees: Transaction processing fees may apply to certain payment methods. These fees are disclosed at the time of the transaction.
- Service & Administration Fees: Coopie may charge service or administration fees for specific features. All applicable fees will be clearly communicated before they are incurred.
- Refund & Reversal Policy: Refund and reversal requests are subject to the policies of the relevant Cooperative and payment processor. Coopie will facilitate the reversal process but cannot guarantee refunds for payments processed through Cooperatives.
All fees are denominated in Nigerian Naira (₦) unless otherwise stated.
11. User Responsibilities & Prohibited Conduct
As a User of the Platform, you agree to:
- Provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and maintain its accuracy.
- Keep your login credentials secure and not share them with any third party.
- Use the Platform only for lawful purposes in connection with cooperative activities.
- Honour all financial commitments, including contribution obligations and guarantor responsibilities.
- Respect the data isolation between Cooperatives and not attempt to access data from Cooperatives you do not belong to.
You must not:
- Use the Platform for money laundering, fraud, or any illegal activity.
- Attempt to gain unauthorized access to other users’ accounts or Cooperative data.
- Circumvent or disable any security features of the Platform.
- Use automated tools to scrape, crawl, or extract data from the Platform without authorization.
- Impersonate another person or misrepresent your affiliation with a Cooperative.
- Upload or transmit malicious code, viruses, or harmful content.
- Interfere with or disrupt the Platform’s infrastructure or services.
12. Data Accuracy & KYC
In compliance with Nigerian regulations, including anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) requirements, Cooperatives and their Members may be required to complete KYC verification:
- BVN Verification: Members may be required to provide their Bank Verification Number (BVN) for identity verification.
- NIN Verification: Members may be required to provide their National Identification Number (NIN).
- Bank Details: Members must provide accurate bank account details for transaction processing. Bank details are verified through the integrated payment infrastructure.
- Consequences of False Information: Providing false, misleading, or fraudulent information may result in immediate account suspension, removal from Cooperatives, and potential legal action under Nigerian law.
You are responsible for ensuring that all personal and financial information provided to the Platform is accurate, complete, and up to date at all times.
13. Intellectual Property
All intellectual property rights in the Platform, including but not limited to the software, design, logos, trademarks, documentation, and all related content, are owned by or licensed to Coopie Technologies Limited.
Subject to your compliance with these Terms, we grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable licence to access and use the Platform for its intended purpose.
Data uploaded by Cooperatives, including member records, financial data, and cooperative documents, remains the property of the respective Cooperative. Coopie does not claim ownership of Cooperative data and will process it only as necessary to provide the services described in these Terms and our Privacy Policy.
14. Notifications & Communications
The Platform provides various communication channels to keep you informed:
- Email Notifications: Transaction confirmations, approval updates, and cooperative announcements sent to your registered email address.
- SMS Notifications: Time-sensitive alerts such as loan approvals, contribution reminders, and security alerts (where phone number is provided).
- In-App Notifications: Real-time updates within the Platform dashboard.
- Preference Management: You may manage your notification preferences from your account settings. However, certain security-related notifications (e.g., login alerts, password changes, suspicious activity) are mandatory and cannot be disabled.
By creating an account, you consent to receive communications from Coopie and your Cooperatives through the channels described above. You may unsubscribe from non-essential marketing communications at any time.
15. Support & Ticketing
Coopie provides customer support through the following channels:
- Support Categories: Technical issues, account management, payment inquiries, cooperative administration support, and general inquiries.
- Priority Levels: Support requests are categorized as Critical (service outage), High (transaction issues), Medium (account issues), or Low (general inquiries).
- SLA Targets: We aim to acknowledge Critical issues within 2 hours, High-priority issues within 4 hours, Medium-priority issues within 24 hours, and Low-priority issues within 48 hours during business days.
Support is available via email at hello@coopie.ng and through the in-app ticketing system. We strive to resolve all issues promptly, though response times may vary based on complexity and volume.
16. Disclaimer of Warranties
THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS. TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY NIGERIAN LAW, COOPIE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, OR STATUTORY, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:
- Any warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.
- Any warranty that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, secure, or free from viruses or other harmful components.
- Any warranty regarding the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of information on the Platform.
Coopie is a technology provider and is not a financial institution, bank, microfinance institution, or licensed money lender. We do not provide financial advice, investment recommendations, or guarantees regarding any Cooperative’s financial performance or solvency.
17. Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY NIGERIAN LAW:
- Coopie’s total aggregate liability to you for all claims arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of the Platform shall not exceed the total fees paid by you or your Cooperative to Coopie in the twelve (12) months preceding the event giving rise to the claim.
- Coopie shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, including loss of profits, data, or goodwill, howsoever caused.
- Coopie shall not be liable for any losses arising from the actions, defaults, or insolvency of any Cooperative, Member, guarantor, or third-party payment processor.
- Coopie shall not be liable for any losses resulting from events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to network failures, natural disasters, or government actions.
18. Indemnification
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Coopie Technologies Limited, its directors, officers, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of or in connection with: (a) your use of the Platform; (b) your violation of these Terms; (c) your violation of any applicable law or regulation; (d) your infringement of any third-party rights; (e) any content or data you submit through the Platform; or (f) any claim by a third party related to your activities on the Platform.
19. Termination
Access to the Platform may be terminated under the following circumstances:
- User-Initiated: You may deactivate your account at any time by contacting support. Deactivation does not release you from any outstanding financial obligations to your Cooperatives.
- Admin-Initiated: Cooperative Administrators may suspend or remove Members from their Cooperative in accordance with the Cooperative’s bye-laws. Suspended Members retain their account but lose access to the specific Cooperative’s features and data.
- Coopie-Initiated: We may suspend or terminate your account if you violate these Terms, engage in fraudulent activity, pose a security risk, or fail to pay applicable fees. We will provide notice where reasonably practicable.
- Effect on Obligations: Termination does not release you from outstanding loan obligations, guarantor commitments, or other financial responsibilities to your Cooperatives.
- Data Retention: Upon termination, your data will be retained in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable legal requirements. Financial records may be retained for a minimum of six (6) years as required by Nigerian law.
20. Dispute Resolution
In the event of any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms or your use of the Platform, the following resolution process shall apply:
- Internal Cooperative Processes: Disputes between Members and their Cooperatives should first be resolved through the Cooperative’s internal dispute resolution processes as outlined in their bye-laws.
- Informal Negotiation: For disputes involving Coopie, the parties shall first attempt to resolve the matter through informal negotiation within thirty (30) days of written notice of the dispute.
- Mediation: If informal negotiation fails, the parties shall submit the dispute to mediation administered by a mutually agreed mediator in Lagos, Nigeria.
- Arbitration: If mediation fails, the dispute shall be resolved by binding arbitration conducted in accordance with the Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023 of Nigeria. The arbitration shall take place in Lagos, Nigeria, and shall be conducted in English.
Nothing in this section shall prevent either party from seeking injunctive or other equitable relief from a court of competent jurisdiction where necessary to prevent irreparable harm.
21. Governing Law
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, including but not limited to:
- The Cooperative Societies Act and applicable state cooperative laws.
- The Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019 and the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023.
- The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) regulations and guidelines applicable to cooperative financial activities.
- The Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act 2015.
- The Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023.
Subject to the dispute resolution provisions above, the courts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any legal proceedings arising out of or in connection with these Terms.
22. Modifications to Terms
Coopie reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. When we make material changes, we will:
- Update the “Last Updated” date at the top of these Terms.
- Notify you via email and/or in-app notification at least fourteen (14) days before the changes take effect.
- Provide a summary of the material changes.
Your continued use of the Platform after the effective date of the updated Terms constitutes your acceptance of the changes. If you do not agree to the modified Terms, you must stop using the Platform and may deactivate your account.
23. Severability & Waiver
If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, illegal, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, such provision shall be severed from these Terms and the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect.
The failure of Coopie to enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not constitute a waiver of such right or provision. Any waiver of any provision of these Terms will be effective only if in writing and signed by an authorized representative of Coopie.
24. Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any applicable Cooperative bye-laws, constitute the entire agreement between you and Coopie Technologies Limited regarding the use of the Platform. These Terms supersede all prior agreements, communications, and understandings, whether oral or written, between you and Coopie relating to the subject matter herein.