Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to the Abia State Technological Skills Acquisition Centre ("ATSAC"), a government initiative of the Abia State Government, Federal Republic of Nigeria. ATSAC operates digital platforms including websites, web applications, portals, and directories (collectively, the "Platform") through which users may submit personal information.

References to "we", "us", and "our" in this Policy refer to ATSAC and the Abia State Government. References to "you" and "your" refer to any individual or organisation accessing or using the Platform.

We may collect the following categories of personal information, depending on how you use the Platform:

a. Information You Provide Directly

• Full name, date of birth, gender;
• Contact details including email address, phone number, and residential address;
• Local Government Area (LGA) and state of residence;
• Professional information including current employer, job title, and years of experience;
• Academic qualifications, skills, trade specialisations, and certifications;
• Portfolio links, LinkedIn profiles, and other professional URLs;
• Profile photographs and portrait images;
• Application responses, motivation statements, and declarations;
• Organisation names, registration details, and business descriptions;
• Any other information you voluntarily submit through any form on the Platform.

b. Information Collected Automatically

• Browser type, device type, and operating system;
• IP address and approximate location;
• Pages visited, time spent, and navigation patterns on the Platform;
• Referral sources and search terms used to reach the Platform.

c. Information from Third Parties

• Verification details provided by partner organisations or training institutions;
• Information shared by other users in relation to service requests, reviews, or referrals.

We use the personal information we collect for the following purposes:

• To process and evaluate applications for training programmes, mentorship, partnerships, and community membership;
• To maintain and display public-facing talent and certificate directories;
• To facilitate communication between service requesters and service providers;
• To send confirmation emails, welcome messages, programme updates, and important notices;
• To administer programme records, attendance, and certification databases;
• To conduct statistical analysis and programme impact assessments;
• To improve the functionality, content, and user experience of the Platform;
• To verify the identity and credentials of applicants and participants;
• To fulfil any legal or regulatory obligations applicable to ATSAC as a government initiative;
• To contact you regarding your application, registration, or enquiry.

We do not sell your personal data. However, we may share your information in the following circumstances:

• Public Directory Listings: If you register as a talent, service provider, or corporate entity, your profile information (excluding sensitive contact details) may be publicly visible on the Platform as part of the directory. You are responsible for what you choose to include in your profile.
• Service Requesters: If a member of the public submits a booking or service request referencing your profile, your contact information may be shared with that requester to facilitate direct communication.
• ATSAC Partners and Collaborating Government Agencies: We may share aggregated, anonymised programme data with government ministries, development agencies, or research bodies for policy and planning purposes.
• Technology Service Providers: We may share data with platform technology providers who assist in operating the Platform, subject to appropriate data processing arrangements.
• Legal Requirements: We may disclose personal information where required to do so by law, court order, or in response to a request from a competent government authority.

Certain information you submit — such as your name, trade skill, LGA, bio, and profile photograph — may be published on a publicly accessible directory or profile page on the Platform if you opt in or submit a talent, corporate, or service provider registration.

You acknowledge and agree that once information is published publicly, ATSAC cannot guarantee control over how third parties access, copy, or use such information. You are strongly advised to only submit information you are comfortable being publicly visible.

ATSAC is not responsible for any consequence arising from the public display of information you have voluntarily submitted for directory listing purposes.

We retain personal data for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including for programme administration, record-keeping, audit, and any legal obligations. Application data may be retained for a minimum of five (5) years following the conclusion of a programme cycle, regardless of the outcome of the application.

ATSAC reserves the right to retain anonymised or aggregated data indefinitely for statistical and research purposes, without further notice to the individuals concerned.

ATSAC takes reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, destruction, alteration, or disclosure. However, no data transmission over the internet or storage system can be guaranteed to be 100% secure.

ATSAC DOES NOT ACCEPT ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY BREACH, LOSS, THEFT, CORRUPTION, OR UNAUTHORISED ACCESS TO PERSONAL DATA SUBMITTED THROUGH THE PLATFORM, WHETHER ARISING FROM TECHNICAL FAILURE, HUMAN ERROR, CYBER ATTACK, OR ANY OTHER CAUSE. YOU SUBMIT YOUR PERSONAL DATA AT YOUR OWN RISK.

The Platform may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve user experience, analyse usage patterns, and maintain session state. By continuing to use the Platform, you consent to the placement of cookies on your device.

You may configure your browser to reject cookies; however, doing so may limit the functionality of certain parts of the Platform. ATSAC does not accept responsibility for any degraded experience resulting from cookie rejection.

The Platform is not intended for use by persons under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe a minor has submitted personal information through the Platform, please contact us immediately. ATSAC accepts no liability for information submitted by or on behalf of minors without appropriate guardian consent.

Subject to applicable law, you may have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of personal data we hold about you. Such requests should be submitted in writing to ATSAC using the contact details below.

ATSAC will endeavour to respond to valid requests within a reasonable timeframe. However, we reserve the right to decline requests where they conflict with legal obligations, programme record-keeping requirements, or where fulfilling such requests would be disproportionately burdensome.

Please note that deletion of data from our systems does not guarantee removal from any cached, archived, or third-party copies of publicly visible profile information.

The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, WhatsApp communities, social media pages, and other external services. ATSAC is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of such third-party services. This Privacy Policy applies only to the ATSAC Platform.

When you follow a link to any external platform — including WhatsApp, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, or any other service — you are subject to that platform's own terms and privacy policies.

ATSAC reserves the right to update or amend this Privacy Policy at any time. Changes will be reflected by updating the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Your continued use of the Platform following any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ATSAC AND THE ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT EXPRESSLY EXCLUDE ALL LIABILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE, LOSS, OR HARM (INCLUDING FINANCIAL LOSS, REPUTATIONAL DAMAGE, DISTRESS, OR DISCRIMINATION) THAT MAY ARISE FROM ANY PRIVACY INCIDENT, DATA BREACH, OR UNAUTHORISED DISCLOSURE OF PERSONAL INFORMATION SUBMITTED TO OR STORED ON THE PLATFORM. USE OF THE PLATFORM CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF THIS RISK.