Who We Are

Our website address is: https://skillsnear.org. We are Skills Near, a dynamic platform dedicated to empowering Nigerian students, youths, and unemployed individuals by connecting them with freelance opportunities and skill-building resources. Our mission is to foster economic growth and self-reliance through accessible online services. We are fully committed to safeguarding your personal information with the utmost care and transparency.

What Data We Collect and Why

We collect various types of data to deliver and enhance our services effectively. This data is gathered for specific purposes to ensure a seamless user experience while adhering to privacy best practices.

• Comments: When visitors leave comments on our site, we collect the data entered in the comments form, including your name, email address, and comment content. Additionally, we record your IP address and browser user agent string to assist in spam detection and improve site security. An anonymized string (hash) derived from your email address may be shared with the Gravatar service to check if you use it for a profile picture, subject to their privacy policy. Once your comment is approved, your profile picture becomes visible to the public alongside your comment, so please consider this when sharing.
• Media: If you upload images to the website, we strongly advise against including embedded location data (EXIF GPS) to protect your privacy. Visitors to the site have the technical ability to download images and extract any location data, which could reveal sensitive information such as your home or workplace coordinates. We encourage you to review and remove such metadata before uploading.
• Cookies: To enhance your experience, we use cookies in several ways:
  • If you leave a comment, you may opt-in to save your name, email address, and website in cookies. These cookies are set for your convenience, eliminating the need to re-enter details for future comments, and they expire after one year.
  • When you visit our login page, a temporary cookie is set to determine if your browser accepts cookies. This cookie contains no personal data and is deleted when you close your browser.
  • Upon logging in, we set multiple cookies to store your login information and screen display preferences. Login cookies last for two days, extendable to two weeks if you select “Remember Me.” Screen options cookies persist for one year to maintain your preferred layout.
  • If you edit or publish an article, an additional cookie is saved in your browser. This cookie holds the post ID of the article you edited and expires after one day, containing no personal identifiable information.
  • We also use cookies for analytics and to personalize your experience, with options to opt-out via browser settings.
• Embedded Content from Other Websites: Our site may feature embedded content such as videos, images, or articles from third-party websites. This content operates as if you visited the original site directly. These external sites may collect data about you, deploy their own cookies, embed tracking technologies, and monitor your interactions. If you are logged into those sites, your activity may be linked to your account, so we recommend reviewing their privacy policies.
• Account and Profile Data: For users who register, we store personal information provided in your profile, including your username, email, skills, and location (if shared). This data helps match you with relevant tasks or projects. Non-registered users’ interactions are limited to comment data.
• Usage and Transaction Data: We track anonymized usage metrics (e.g., page views, task submissions) via tools like Google Analytics to optimize site performance. For transactions (e.g., hiring freelancers), we collect payment details and contact information to process cash-on-delivery payments securely.
• Dispute and Support Data: When raising disputes or seeking support, we collect details like issue descriptions and communication records to resolve conflicts and assist you effectively.

How We Use Your Data

Your data is utilized to:

• Facilitate task postings, project management, and proposal submissions.
• Detect and prevent spam, fraud, or unauthorized access.
• Personalize your dashboard with relevant opportunities.
• Send administrative notifications or optional marketing emails (with an opt-out option).
• Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, such as tax reporting under Nigerian law.
• Improve platform features based on user feedback and analytics.

Who We Share Your Data With

• Third-Party Services: We may share data with trusted partners, such as Gravatar for profile pictures or spam detection services, under strict data protection agreements. These partners are bound by confidentiality and compliance with NDPR.
• Legal Disclosures: Your IP address or data may be shared if required by a court order, Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC) request, or other legal mandates, such as during password resets or fraud investigations.
• No Commercial Sharing: We do not sell, rent, or share your data with third parties for marketing purposes without your explicit consent.

How Long We Retain Your Data

• Comments: Stored indefinitely to enable automatic approval of follow-up comments and maintain discussion continuity.
• User Profiles: Retained until you request deletion, except for data required for administrative, legal, or security purposes (e.g., transaction records kept for 5 years per NDPR).
• Logs and Analytics: Server logs are kept for 30 days to monitor traffic and security, then purged unless needed for ongoing investigations. Anonymized analytics data is retained for up to 2 years.
• Dispute Records: Kept for 1 year after resolution to handle potential appeals or legal reviews.
• Job Applications: Stored during the application process and for 6 months afterward to meet employment law requirements.

What Rights You Have Over Your Data

As a user, you have significant control over your information:

• Access and Export: Request a downloadable file of your personal data, including comments and profile details, by contacting support@skillsnear.org.
• Erasure: Request deletion of your data, excluding legally mandated records (e.g., financial transactions).
• Correction: Update your profile information anytime via your account settings.
• Objection: Opt-out of non-essential data use (e.g., marketing) through account preferences or email.
• Complaint: If dissatisfied, file a complaint with the NDPC (www.ndpc.gov.ng) after contacting us.

Where Your Data Is Sent

• Spam Detection: Comments may be processed by automated services (e.g., Akismet), hosted in the US or EU, compliant with international privacy standards.
• Data Storage: Your data is stored on secure servers in [insert location, e.g., US or EU], with backups in the same region. Cross-border transfers comply with NDPR, using safeguards like encryption and contractual clauses.
• Local Processing: Where possible, data is processed within Nigeria to minimize international transfer risks.

Data Security

While no online platform is entirely immune to breaches, we implement robust measures:

• Encryption: All data transmission uses SSL/TLS, and passwords are hashed with strong algorithms.
• Access Control: Only authorized personnel access your data, with role-based restrictions.
• Security Audits: Regular assessments and updates protect against vulnerabilities.
• Two-Factor Authentication: Enabled in account settings to enhance security.
• Incident Response: In case of a breach, we notify affected users and NDPC within 72 hours, per NDPR.

Children’s Privacy

Our services target users 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13. If we discover such data, we will delete it upon notification from a parent or guardian to support@skillsnear.org.

Third-Party Links and Integrations

Links to external sites or integrations (e.g., payment gateways) are not covered by this policy. Review their privacy policies before use, as they may collect data independently.

Policy on Disputes and Confidentiality

• Dispute Handling: We collect dispute details (e.g., employer delays, freelancer unavailability) to mediate fairly. Data is used solely for resolution and retained for 1 year.
• Confidentiality: Sensitive dispute information is encrypted and accessible only to dispute resolution teams.

Policy on Marketing and Communications

• Marketing Opt-In: We may send promotional emails about new features or opportunities, but only with your consent. Unsubscribe via email links.
• Transactional Emails: Essential updates (e.g., payment confirmations) are mandatory and cannot be opted out of.

Intellectual Property and Data Usage

• User Content: You retain ownership of content (e.g., task descriptions), but grant us a license to display it on the platform.
• Data Usage: We use anonymized data for research (e.g., skill trends) without identifying individuals.

Policy Changes

We may update this policy to reflect new features or legal requirements. Changes will be posted here with a change log, and we may notify you via email or site announcement. Continued use after updates signifies acceptance.

Contact Us

For privacy concerns, reach us at support@skillsnear.org or [Insert Physical Address]. For NDPC complaints, visit www.ndpc.gov.ng. We aim to respond within 7 business days.