Privacy Policy

Valent (“Valent”, “we”, “us”) operates the Valent website and web app. We are the data controller for the personal data described in this policy, and we process it in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 (“NDPA”) and other applicable law. Where a startup downloads or otherwise uses candidate data outside Valent, that startup is responsible for it as a separate controller.

Information you give us

• Account details: your name, email address, password (stored hashed) and role.
• Candidate profiles: work history, skills, education, CV, portfolio links, location, salary expectations and job preferences.
• Startup information: company name, description, team members, job posts, and business details we request for verification.
• Communications: applications, messages between users, and emails you send us.

Information collected automatically

• Device and log data, such as IP address, browser type, pages viewed and the date and time of requests.
• Information stored on your device to make the site work, such as your light or dark mode preference (see Cookies and local storage).

Information from others

If you sign in with a third-party provider, we receive the basic profile information you allow it to share. Startups may also add notes about candidates who applied to their roles.

We use personal data only where we have a lawful basis under the NDPA:

• To provide the Services (performance of a contract): creating accounts, publishing jobs, sending applications, enabling messaging and recommending relevant roles or candidates.
• To keep Valent safe (legitimate interests): verifying startups, preventing fraud, spam and scam job posts, and enforcing our Acceptable Use Policy.
• To improve the product (legitimate interests): understanding how features are used in aggregate so we can make them better.
• To send updates (consent): job alerts and newsletters you sign up for. You can unsubscribe at any time.
• To meet legal obligations: responding to lawful requests and keeping required records.

• With startups: when you apply for a role, or if you choose to make your profile discoverable to verified startups.
• With candidates: company pages and job posts are public, and startup team members who message candidates are identified by name and role.
• With service providers who host, secure, email and support the Services for us, under contracts that require them to protect your data and use it only on our instructions.
• For legal reasons: where required by law, or to protect the rights, safety and property of our users, the public or Valent.
• In a business transfer, such as a merger or acquisition, in which case we will tell you before your data becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

We do not sell personal data, and we do not allow startups to export candidate data for unrelated purposes.

Some of our service providers may process data outside Nigeria. When that happens, we rely on the transfer mechanisms permitted by the NDPA, such as adequacy, contractual safeguards or your consent, and we take steps to make sure your data receives an equivalent level of protection.

We keep personal data for as long as your account is active and as needed to provide the Services. When you delete your account, we delete or anonymise your data within 30 days, except where we must keep certain records for longer to meet legal, tax or security obligations. Applications you have already sent remain visible to the startups that received them until they are removed from those startups’ workspaces.

We use technical and organisational measures appropriate to the risk, including encryption in transit, access controls and monitoring. No system is perfectly secure, so please use a strong, unique password. If we become aware of a personal data breach that is likely to put your rights at risk, we will notify you and the Nigeria Data Protection Commission as required by law.

Under the NDPA, you have the right to:

• access the personal data we hold about you and receive a copy;
• have inaccurate data corrected and incomplete data completed;
• have your data deleted, or its use restricted, in certain circumstances;
• receive your data in a portable format;
• object to processing based on legitimate interests, including profiling;
• withdraw consent at any time, without affecting earlier processing.

Most of these you can do yourself in your account settings. Otherwise, email privacy@valent.ng and we will respond within the time required by law. You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

The Valent website uses your browser’s local storage to remember your light or dark mode preference, and the web app uses essential cookies to keep you signed in and secure. If we introduce analytics or other non-essential cookies, we will ask for your consent first where the law requires it.

Valent is not intended for anyone under 18, and we do not knowingly collect their data. If you believe a child has provided us with personal data, contact us and we will delete it.

We may update this policy as Valent evolves. If we make material changes, we will notify you by email or in the app before they take effect. The date at the top of this page shows when it was last updated.

For privacy questions or to exercise your rights, email privacy@valent.ng.