Privacy Policy

Valley of Memory Foundation (“the Foundation,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to handling personal information responsibly.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, disclose, and protect personal information when you visit our website, contact us, make a donation, register for a programme, volunteer, participate in our activities, or otherwise interact with us.

We seek to handle personal information transparently and in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 where applicable.

Depending on how you interact with the Foundation, we may collect the following categories of information:

A. Personal Identification and Contact Information

• Full name.
• Email address.
• Telephone number.
• Correspondence or contact address.
• Organization or institutional affiliation, where relevant.

B. Programme and Volunteer Information

• Registration and application details.
• Skills, qualifications, experience, and areas of interest.
• Attendance and participation records.
• Information necessary to organize or administer a programme.

C. Donation and Transaction Information

• Donation amount, date, reference, and transaction status.
• Payment confirmation and relevant transaction records.
• Limited payment-related information provided by an authorized payment service provider.

Where payments are processed by an external payment provider, that provider may collect and process payment card or account details under its own privacy and security arrangements. We do not intentionally collect or store complete payment card security credentials through this website.

D. Communications and Submitted Materials

• Messages, enquiries, feedback, complaints, and correspondence.
• Stories, photographs, recordings, historical accounts, or research materials that you voluntarily submit.
• Consent records associated with publications, interviews, events, or projects.

We will take additional care when handling sensitive personal information, particularly information involving children, identifiable individuals in sensitive circumstances, or vulnerable communities.

E. Technical Information

Depending on the website's actual configuration, technical information may include browser type, device information, IP address, access logs, referring pages, and website usage data.

Cookies or similar technologies may be used where implemented. Their use and any associated consent mechanisms will depend on the features enabled on our website.

We may collect personal information:

• Directly from you through website forms, email, telephone, or other communications.
• When you make a donation or transaction through an authorised payment provider.
• When you register for or participate in our activities.
• From partner organisations where information is lawfully shared for an agreed programme.
• Automatically through technical systems, server logs, or analytics tools where these are enabled.

We will seek to collect only information reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.

We may use personal information to:

• Respond to enquiries, complaints, and requests.
• Administer donations and maintain appropriate financial records.
• Organise programmes, events, training, and volunteer activities.
• Communicate relevant updates, announcements, and opportunities.
• Document cultural heritage, preserve historical records, and support authorised research.
• Publish reports, stories, photographs, or other materials where appropriate permissions or another valid legal basis exist.
• Maintain website security and improve website performance.
• Prevent fraud, address misuse, and protect our users and operations.
• Meet legal, regulatory, accounting, and reporting obligations.

We will not use personal information for purposes incompatible with the purpose for which it was collected unless permitted by law or supported by an appropriate legal basis.

Where required by applicable data protection law, we will rely on an appropriate lawful basis for processing personal information. Depending on the circumstances, this may include:

• Your consent.
• The performance of a contract or steps requested by you before entering a contract.
• Compliance with a legal obligation.
• A legitimate interest pursued in a manner consistent with your rights.
• Another lawful basis recognised by applicable law.

Where processing relies on consent, you may withdraw that consent. Withdrawal does not invalidate processing lawfully carried out before the withdrawal.

Preserving cultural memory is central to our mission. However, the importance of documentation does not remove the need to respect individual privacy, community protocols, and appropriate permissions.

Before publishing identifiable photographs, interviews, personal stories, or sensitive community records, the Foundation will seek appropriate consent or establish another lawful basis where required.

We will take reasonable steps to respect requests concerning the use of personal material, subject to legal obligations, existing lawful permissions, archival responsibilities, and other applicable rights.

Information about indigenous communities and traditional knowledge will be handled with respect for applicable cultural protocols and the interests of the relevant knowledge holders.

We do not sell personal information to third parties.

Where necessary and lawful, we may share limited information with:

• Payment processors and financial service providers.
• Website hosting providers, technical support providers, and data storage services.
• Programme partners, institutions, or service providers involved in an activity you have joined.
• Professional advisers, auditors, or legal representatives.
• Government agencies, regulators, law enforcement authorities, or courts where legally required or otherwise permitted.

We will take reasonable steps to ensure that third parties receiving personal information handle it appropriately. Where required, suitable contractual and data protection safeguards will be used.

Some website hosting, cloud storage, email, or payment services may process information outside Nigeria.

Where personal information is transferred internationally, the Foundation will take the steps required by applicable law, including appropriate safeguards where necessary.

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, meet legal and financial recordkeeping requirements, resolve disputes, protect our legitimate interests, or fulfil other lawful obligations.

Retention periods may vary depending on the type of information and the nature of the programme or transaction.

When information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to securely delete, anonymise, or otherwise dispose of it, subject to applicable legal and archival requirements.

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration, loss, or destruction.

These measures may include access controls, appropriate account security, secure transmission where supported, and restricted access to information.

No online platform or electronic transmission can be guaranteed completely secure. We will take appropriate steps to respond to suspected data breaches in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Subject to applicable law and any lawful limitations, you may have the right to:

• Request information about how your personal information is processed.
• Request access to your personal information.
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Request deletion of personal information where applicable.
• Object to or request restrictions on certain processing.
• Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.
• Request a copy of certain information in a portable format where applicable.
• Lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection authority.

To exercise a right, contact us using the details in Section 15. We may request reasonable information to verify your identity before responding.

Our website may use essential technical technologies to support its operation. If analytics, advertising, or other non-essential tracking technologies are introduced, we will provide appropriate information and obtain consent where required by law.

You can manage cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect some website functions.

This section describes our intended approach and should be updated to reflect the technologies actually operating on the website.

Some Foundation programmes may involve children or young people. We take their privacy and safety seriously.

Where personal information about a child is collected, we will apply appropriate safeguards and obtain parental or guardian consent where required by applicable law. We will not knowingly publish identifiable information about a child without an appropriate legal basis and the necessary permissions.

Parents, guardians, or authorised representatives may contact us with questions or requests concerning a child's personal information.

Our website may link to external platforms, including payment services, social media sites, and partner organisations.

Those websites have their own privacy policies and practices. We encourage you to review their policies before submitting personal information to them.

For privacy-related questions, requests, or complaints, please contact:

We may revise this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in our activities, website technologies, data handling practices, or legal requirements.

The updated version will be published on our website with a revised date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

Our commitment: we aim to protect your privacy while preserving cultural memory, advancing justice, and building a more informed and equitable future.