We value the privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your data when you interact with any of our official websites, applications, or online services.
Whether you are a student, staff member, applicant, or general visitor, we handle your personal information responsibly and in compliance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 and international best practices such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
This document also outlines your rights to access, correct, or request deletion of your personal data, and how you can contact our ICT Unit for privacy-related concerns.
By using our websites or submitting your data through any of our digital platforms, you agree to the terms described in this Privacy Policy.
What Personal Data Do We Collect, and Why Do We Collect It?
We collect and process personal data from individuals who interact with our digital platforms, including students, applicants, alumni, staff, and visitors. This information helps us deliver essential academic, administrative, and support services.
The data we collect may include:
- Full name and contact details (email address, phone number, postal address)
- Application and admission information
- User preferences and login credentials (for portal users)
- Technical data such as browser type, IP address, and cookies
We use this information to:
- Communicate important updates and responses to enquiries
- Process admissions, registrations, and academic records
- Support research, institutional reporting, and service improvements
- Enhance website functionality and monitor system security
Personal data is processed only when necessary for legitimate university purposes, when required by law, or when you have given consent.
User Comments
When visitors leave comments on our site, we collect the data entered in the comment form, including name, email address, and comment text. To help detect spam, we also collect the visitor’s IP address and browser information.
An anonymised code (called a hash) created from your email address may be sent to the Gravatar service to check if you are using it. The Gravatar privacy policy is available here. Once your comment is approved, your profile image (if any) becomes visible alongside your comment.
User Media
If you upload images or documents to our website or portal, please avoid including embedded location data (EXIF GPS). Visitors to the website may be able to download and extract such data from uploaded files.
All uploaded files are stored securely on university-managed servers. However, users should exercise caution before uploading personal or sensitive media to public areas of the site.
Website Cookies
Our website uses cookies to improve user experience, monitor performance, and enhance security. Cookies are small files saved on your browser that remember your preferences when you return to our site. Examples of cookies we use include:
- Session cookies: to identify when you are logged in.
- Preference cookies: to remember your display and language settings.
- Analytics cookies: to track website usage and help us improve user experience.
If you leave a comment, you may choose to save your name, email, and website in cookies for convenience, so you do not need to re-enter these details later. These cookies last for up to one year.
When you log in, temporary cookies may also be created to confirm your browser’s compatibility and retain login information for a limited time. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though this may affect some website functionality.
Usage Analytics
OOU uses analytics tools, such as WP Statistics, to understand how visitors use our websites. The information collected includes:
- Number of site visits and page views
- User IP address and browser details
- Time and duration of visits
This information helps us improve our content and digital services. All analytics data is stored locally on our own servers and is not shared with any third parties. You may opt out of analytics tracking by contacting the ICT Unit at enquiry@oouagoiwoye.edu.ng or by using your browser’s “Do Not Track” setting.
Who We Share Your Data With
We do not sell or share your personal information with third parties for commercial purposes. However, your data may be shared securely with authorised service providers who assist in running our digital platforms or administrative systems. Examples include:
- Government education agencies (e.g., JAMB, NUC) for accreditation and reporting
- Payment processors for secure online transactions
- Institutional research or statistical bodies (where anonymised data may be required)
All third-party partners operate under strict data protection agreements consistent with the NDPA 2023 and GDPR standards, ensuring your information remains secure and confidential.
How Long Do We Retain Your Data?
We retain personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law, regulation, or institutional policy. Typical data retention periods include:
- Contact form submissions: kept for up to 6 months for support and follow-up purposes.
- Analytics data: retained for 1 year for trend analysis and system improvement.
- Staff data: retained as long as required by university service regulations and pension requirements.
When data is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or anonymized to prevent unauthorized access or use.
What Rights Do You Have Over Your Data?
As a data subject under the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 and applicable international data protection laws (including GDPR), you have the following rights:
- Right of access: You may request to see the personal data we hold about you.
- Right to rectification: You may request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete data.
- Right to erasure: You may request deletion of your data where it is no longer necessary for the purpose collected.
- Right to restrict processing: You may request that we limit how we use your information.
- Right to data portability: You may request transfer of your personal data in a structured, commonly used format.
- Right to withdraw consent: You may withdraw consent for data processing at any time, especially for optional services such as newsletters or promotional materials.
Requests regarding any of these rights can be made by contacting the OOU ICT Unit.
Where Your Data Is Sent
Some of our website services and systems may involve data being transmitted outside Nigeria, such as when hosted on secure international servers or through trusted cloud service providers.
In all such cases, OOU ensures that adequate protection measures are in place. These include compliance with GDPR data transfer standards, contractual safeguards, and encryption protocols.
Visitor comments, for example, may be checked using automated spam detection tools (e.g., Akismet Anti-Spam), which may process information temporarily through secure international systems.
Related Policies
To ensure transparency and full understanding of how we protect and manage your information, we encourage all users to review our other related legal policies. Each policy complements this Privacy Policy by addressing specific areas of data use, user conduct, and academic integrity.
1. Cookie Policy
Explains how and why cookies are used on our website, what information they store, and how you can manage your cookie preferences.
2. Terms and Conditions
Outlines the rules and acceptable use of our website, including user responsibilities, intellectual property rights, and limitations of liability.
3. Anti-Plagiarism Policy
Describes the university’s commitment to academic honesty, detailing how plagiarism is detected, prevented, and addressed.
By using our website or related online services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood these policies.
Contact Information
If you have any concerns, requests, or complaints regarding your data privacy, please contact:
Data Protection and ICT Unit,
Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU),
Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria.
Email: enquiry@oouagoiwoye.edu.ng