Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of the Forge Africa platform ("Platform"), operated by Forge Africa ("we," "us," or "our"). By registering an account or using the Platform, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old, have the legal capacity to enter into a binding agreement, and agree to comply with these Terms.

2. Use of Platform

Forge Africa is a B2B manufacturing marketplace that connects clients seeking manufacturing services ("Clients") with verified manufacturers ("Vendors") through a structured Request for Quotation (RFQ) process. The Platform is intended strictly for legitimate commercial purposes.

Prohibited Uses

You may not use the Platform to:

• Submit fraudulent, misleading, or fictitious RFQs
• Circumvent the Platform to transact directly with vendors discovered through Forge Africa
• Harass, abuse, or harm other users
• Upload malicious code, viruses, or harmful content
• Violate any applicable Nigerian or international law
• Misrepresent your identity, company, or capabilities

3. User Accounts

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. You agree to notify us immediately at hello@forgeafrica.africa if you suspect any unauthorised access to your account. Forge Africa will not be liable for any loss resulting from unauthorised use of your account.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms without notice.

4. The RFQ Process

The Forge Africa RFQ process works as follows:

1. A Client submits a manufacturing request detailing specifications, quantity, and deadline
2. Forge Africa reviews and approves the RFQ before opening it to vendors
3. Verified Vendors submit competitive bids within the bidding window
4. Forge Africa curates the most suitable bid and presents a final quote to the Client
5. The Client accepts the quote and pays a deposit to initiate the project
6. The Vendor delivers the order; balance payment is made on satisfactory delivery

Forge Africa acts as an intermediary and facilitator. We are not a party to the manufacturing contract between Client and Vendor.

5. Payments & Platform Fees

All payments are processed securely through Paystack. By using the Platform, you agree to Paystack's terms of service in addition to these Terms.

Service Fee

Forge Africa charges a service fee on each transaction. This fee is incorporated into the final quoted price presented to the Client — there are no separate platform charges to clients. The exact margin percentage varies per transaction and is set by Forge Africa at the time of quote creation.

Deposit

Clients are required to pay a deposit (ranging from 20%–50% of the total quote, as specified per order) before a Vendor commences work. This deposit is held securely and released to the Vendor once work begins.

Balance Payment

The balance is payable upon satisfactory completion and delivery of the order. Forge Africa will notify the Client when the order is ready for final payment.

6. Vendor Obligations

Verified Vendors agree to:

• Accurately represent their capabilities, equipment, and experience
• Only bid on projects they are genuinely capable of fulfilling
• Commence work promptly upon deposit confirmation
• Deliver orders to the agreed specification, quantity, and timeline
• Communicate proactively with Forge Africa regarding any delays or issues
• Maintain the confidentiality of Client project details

Failure to fulfil a confirmed order without reasonable cause may result in suspension from the platform and forfeiture of payment.

7. Client Obligations

Clients agree to:

• Provide accurate, complete, and honest RFQ descriptions
• Respond to Forge Africa communications within a reasonable timeframe
• Make payments according to the agreed schedule
• Not attempt to contact or transact with Vendors outside the Platform

8. Disputes

In the event of a dispute between a Client and Vendor, Forge Africa will act as a neutral mediator. Both parties agree to first attempt resolution through Forge Africa's dispute process by contacting hello@forgeafrica.africa.

Forge Africa reserves the right to make a final determination on disputes and may withhold, release, or refund payments accordingly. Our decisions, made in good faith, are final and binding.

9. Intellectual Property

Clients retain ownership of all design files, specifications, and drawings submitted as part of an RFQ. By submitting them, you grant Forge Africa and the selected Vendor a limited licence to use these materials solely for the purpose of fulfilling your order. Vendors may not reproduce, sell, or share Client designs without explicit written consent.

10. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by Nigerian law, Forge Africa shall not be liable for any indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising from your use of the Platform, including but not limited to: loss of profits, loss of data, manufacturing defects, delivery delays, or third-party vendor failures.

Forge Africa's total liability for any claim shall not exceed the total fees paid by you to Forge Africa in the three months preceding the claim.

11. Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate your access to the Platform at any time, with or without notice, for conduct that we believe violates these Terms or is harmful to other users, Forge Africa, or third parties. Upon termination, your right to use the Platform ceases immediately. Any outstanding obligations (including payments) remain enforceable.

12. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Lagos State, Nigeria.

If you have questions about these Terms, please contact us at hello@forgeafrica.africa.