Copyright Notice

Privacy Statement: Ákụ́òyíbó Nsugbe Journal of the School of Languages

1. Introduction

The Ákụ́òyíbó Nsugbe Journal of the School of Languages (referred to as "The Journal," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of its users, authors, reviewers, and editors. This Privacy Statement outlines our practices concerning the collection, use, and disclosure of personal data gathered through our journal management system and website (e.g., Open Journal Systems - OJS, or equivalent platform).

By using The Journal's site or services, you consent to the data practices described in this statement.

2. Data Collection and Usage

The data we collect is essential for the standard functioning of a peer-reviewed academic journal, facilitating communication, editorial processes, and the maintenance of the scholarly record.

Category of User Data Collected Purpose of Processing
Authors & Co-authors Name, Affiliation, Email Address, ORCID ID, Country, Short Biographical Note (if provided). Processing and managing manuscript submissions, facilitating the peer-review process, formal communication regarding editorial decisions, and publication.
Reviewers Name, Affiliation, Email Address, Expertise/Keywords. Matching manuscripts with appropriate reviewers, facilitating blind peer review (only non-identifying data is shared with authors), and communication regarding review assignments.
Editors & Staff Name, Affiliation, Email Address. Managing the editorial workflow, communicating with authors and reviewers, and inclusion in the journal’s public-facing editorial board list.
Registered Readers Name, Email Address (if subscribed to notifications). Sending journal updates, new issue notifications, or relevant calls for papers.
All Website Users IP Address, Browser Type, Pages Visited, Access Times, Cookies (Session & Analytics). Security, site performance optimization, generating aggregated readership statistics, and tracking the use of scholarly content.

3. Principle of Data Use and Confidentiality

  • Exclusivity of Use: The names and email addresses entered on this journal site will be used exclusively for the stated purposes of this journal and will not be made available to any other party for marketing, commercial, or unrelated purposes.

  • Public Record: Information such as Author Name, Affiliation, ORCID ID, and Email Address (as provided for publication) is considered part of the permanent scholarly record and will be publicly displayed alongside the published article for perpetuity.

4. Disclosure and Sharing of Data

Personal data is shared only when necessary for the core functions of academic publishing:

  • Editorial Team: Data is shared among the editorial board, Section Editors, and Managing Editor to facilitate the peer-review and publishing process.

  • Indexing and Archiving Services: Essential metadata, including Author Name, Affiliation, and Article Title, may be shared with trusted third-party services (e.g., CrossRef, indexing databases, preservation systems like LOCKSS/CLOCKSS) to ensure the long-term preservation and discoverability of our published content.

  • Legal Obligation: We will disclose your personal data if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities.

5. Data Security and Retention

  • Security: We take reasonable technical and organizational precautions to prevent the loss, misuse, or alteration of your personal information. Data is stored on secure servers with access restricted only to authorized editorial and technical personnel.

  • Retention:

    • Public Data: Data published alongside an article (Author Name, Affiliation, etc.) is retained indefinitely as part of the public scholarly record.

    • User Accounts: User profiles and associated data remain active while you maintain an account on our platform. Inactive accounts may be securely archived or deleted periodically.

    • Submission Files: Manuscript files and associated review records are retained in compliance with academic archiving standards.

6. Cookies Policy

The Journal's website uses cookies to enhance user experience and manage sessions.

  • Functional Cookies: These are strictly necessary for the site to operate, such as managing user login sessions (e.g., OJS Session ID). By registering and/or logging onto the system, you consent to these cookies being placed in your browser.

  • Analytics Cookies: These are used to collect aggregated, anonymous data on site usage, helping us improve the journal’s performance and understand readership behaviour.

You may choose to disable cookies via your browser settings, but please note that some features of the site may not function properly without them.

7. Your Rights

The Journal strives to adhere to international best practices for data privacy, including provisions similar to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for data subject rights, which include:

  • Right of Access: The right to request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

  • Right to Rectification: The right to request correction of any inaccurate or incomplete personal data.

  • Right to Erasure (Right to be Forgotten): The right to request the deletion of your personal data, provided it does not conflict with our legal obligation to maintain the integrity of the public scholarly record (e.g., published author names cannot be erased).

To exercise any of these rights, please contact the Journal Management using the details below.

8. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Statement or the way the Ákụ́òyíbó Nsugbe Journal of the School of Languages handles your personal information, please contact:

Journal Contact: Chief Editor

Journal Contact Email Address: anjosol.nocen@gmail.com

Last Updated Date: 08-12-2025