Privacy Policy

This portal is operated by the Government of Abia State for the purpose of the Abia State Leadership Academy application exercise. We process your data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023 (NDPA) and applicable regulations.

1. Who we are

The Abia State Leadership Academy application portal ("the portal", "we", "us") is operated by the Government of Abia State. For the purposes of the NDPA, the relevant Abia State Government ministry, department or agency administering the Academy is the data controller for the personal data collected through this portal.

2. Information we collect

When you create an account and complete an application, we collect:

• Identity and bio-data: surname, first name, middle name, mother's maiden name, gender, date of birth, religion and marital status.
• Contact details: phone number and email address.
• Government identifiers: National Identity Number (NIN) and Abia State Identification Number (ABSIN).
• Origin and residence: nationality, state and LGA of origin, hometown, and state and LGA of residence.
• Photograph: a passport photograph that you upload.
• Leadership record: whether you held leadership roles at nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary levels, and community or religious leadership involvement.
• Parent/guardian information: name, gender, relationship and phone number.
• Medical information: declared allergies and any physical disability or impediment. This is sensitive personal data and is handled with additional care.
• Technical data: limited technical information such as your IP address, recorded for security and to protect against abuse of the portal.

3. How we use your information

We use your information to:

• Create and manage your applicant account and issue your application number.
• Receive, assess and process your application to the Academy.
• Verify your identity using your NIN.
• Contact you about your application, including by SMS.
• Shortlist applicants and administer the selection exercise.
• Maintain the security, integrity and proper operation of the portal.
• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations.

4. Lawful basis for processing

We process your personal data on the basis of your consent (given when you submit your application), the performance of a task carried out in the public interest by a government body, and compliance with legal obligations. Where we process sensitive data such as medical information, we do so only to the extent necessary for the administration of the Academy and with appropriate safeguards.

5. Sharing and disclosure

We do not sell your personal data. We may share it only:

• With relevant Abia State Government ministries, departments and agencies involved in administering the Academy.
• With identity-verification providers, strictly to confirm your NIN (see section 6).
• With our SMS gateway provider, strictly to deliver notifications to your phone number.
• Where required by law, regulation, or a lawful request from a competent authority.

6. NIN and identity verification

Your NIN is used to confirm your identity against the records of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), either through a licensed verification provider or by administrative review. We use your NIN only for identity verification in connection with your application, and we do not use it for any unrelated purpose.

7. SMS and communications

By providing your phone number, you consent to receive SMS messages relating to your application, such as your application number, submission confirmation and important announcements. These messages are delivered through a third-party SMS gateway that processes your phone number solely for this purpose.

8. Data security

We apply technical and organisational measures to protect your data, including encrypted transmission, access controls, hashed passwords, and restricted administrative access. While we take reasonable steps to safeguard your information, no method of transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Data retention

We retain your application data for as long as necessary to administer the Academy exercise and to meet legal, audit and record-keeping requirements, after which it is securely deleted or anonymised in accordance with applicable government retention schedules.

10. Your rights

Subject to the NDPA and applicable law, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Request deletion of your data, subject to our legal and administrative obligations.
• Withdraw consent, noting that this may prevent us from processing your application.
• Lodge a complaint with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details in section 13.

11. Children and minors

The Academy is aimed at young people, and some applicants may be minors. Where an applicant is a minor, we expect that a parent or guardian is aware of, and consents to, the application and the processing of the applicant's data as described in this policy.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with a revised "last updated" date. Your continued use of the portal after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

13. Contact us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your data is handled, please contact the Abia State Leadership Academy administration through the official channels of the Government of Abia State.

See also our Terms of Use.