Corruption: What You Need to Know

FeaturedLeave a comment

Introduction

In a country where people care more about their own success than making the country better, corruption tends to grow. When individual achievements matter more than what’s suitable for everyone, corruption is at work – like in the personal, group, or even spiritual settings. Surprisingly, even in places of worship, if personal growth is more important than everyone growing together, corruption is already there. It’s okay to want personal success, but if you’re only focused on beating others, corruption might be creeping in. This could be because of the people around you or because you’ve been influenced by the environment. I always tell people you cannot be praying to buy a car and build a house when the environment is in chaos, you will be the target for the poor or those still struggling.

Corruption remains a pervasive issue that affects nations, individuals, and organizations on a global scale. In recent times, discussions surrounding the profound implications of corruption have gained prominence, shedding light on its far-reaching consequences. This article delves into the multifaceted impact of corruption, with a focus on the economic, social, and organizational dimensions. Drawing from a United Nations (UN) report on corruption’s staggering costs and its link to conflict, this article examines its implications for nations, individuals, and organizations, emphasizing its detrimental effects on African countries and their people. Furthermore, we explore the definition of corruption, elucidating its various forms and manifestations.

Image Source: Transparency International

Understanding the Enormous Costs of Corruption

A significant starting point for our exploration lies within the comprehensive UN report, which states that corruption has resulted in a colossal cost to the global economy, amounting to over $2.6 trillion or 5% of the global GDP (UN, 2018). This staggering figure raises critical questions about the destination of these immense financial resources. Unquestionably, a substantial portion of these funds can be attributed to African and other developing nations, where corruption has taken root and thrived. Research has consistently demonstrated a direct correlation between a country’s corruption levels and its developmental status, as well as the prevalence of poverty within its borders. The impact of corruption can be seen all over Africa, where funds meant for community or state development are directed to the personal pockets of some select few, while those projects suffer from stagnation or lack of funds.

Corruption and Conflict: A Complex Relationship

The UN report also underscores the intricate link between corruption and conflict. This connection between two seemingly disparate issues points to the destabilizing effects of corruption, which can exacerbate existing tensions and fuel conflicts. The representative of the United States emphasized this connection, highlighting how corruption’s unchecked growth permits transnational crime and drug trafficking to flourish. This, in turn, triggers mass migration and poses significant challenges to regions and the global community. Notably, historical instances like the “Arab Spring” serve as poignant reminders of the role corruption can play in sparking widespread protests and uprisings.

Corruption’s Stranglehold on African Nations

A closer examination of corruption’s impact on Africa unveils a distressing reality. Corruption has been a key factor in hampering the growth and development of many African countries. This often occurs with the complicity of external actors seeking to protect their interests. While corruption exists globally, the Western world’s foundation built on principles of trust, justice, and national interest has mitigated its impact to a considerable extent. African nations, plagued by deeply entrenched corruption, have struggled to realize their full potential, as misappropriated funds and resources hinder progress and exacerbate social inequalities. A portion of the corruption in Africa can be linked to Western influence aiming to maintain control over their investments and interests.

Defining Corruption: Unravelling Its Many Facets

To comprehensively address corruption, a clear understanding of its manifestations is essential. Corruption takes the form of offering, giving, or soliciting benefits to influence the actions of individuals in positions of authority. These actions can involve direct or indirect attempts to manipulate decisions, often resulting in fraudulent practices or the evasion of legal requirements. Benefits exchanged in corrupt transactions can encompass various forms, including monetary bribes, facilitation payments, kickbacks, inappropriate gifts, sponsorships, and other direct or indirect considerations.

The 3-Main Impact of Corruption especially on Africa

  • Economic Impact
  • Social and Human Impact
  • Organization Impact

Economic Impact: Corruption’s far-reaching implications extend to economic realms, where its detrimental effects are starkly evident. According to estimates from the World Economic Forum, global corruption amounts to a staggering $2.6 trillion or 5% of the global GDP. This not only undermines economic efficiency but also contributes to reduced equality and unfavourable business environments.

For example, Gupta et al. (1998), in their paper “Does Corruption Affect Income Inequality and Poverty”? Li et al (2000), Hendriks et al. (1998), and Johnston, M. (1989) Corruption, Inequality, and Change argue that corruption increases income inequality through several channels. First, to the extent that corruption decreases economic growth, which is more likely to increase the income share of the poor than the rich, it increases income inequality and poverty. Second, corruption leads to a bias of the tax system in favor of the rich and powerful, thus making the effective tax system regressive (Hendriks et al. 1998), which implies that the burden of the tax system falls disproportionately on the poor.

A potential link has been suggested between corruption levels, poverty rates, and a nation’s gross domestic product (GDP), with Africa often cited as an example. While some argue that higher corruption can impede economic growth, leading to an increase in poverty and a decrease in GDP, the relationship is multifaceted and influenced by a range of factors like governance, education, healthcare, infrastructure, international trade, and other elements that collectively shape a country’s economic and social landscape, however, I believe corruption plays a major role. Corruption influences policies, processes, and critical decision that affects human life when people are induced or moved by personal gain.

In African countries, the notional tax system is not regressive. However, corruption allows the rich and powerful to escape their tax obligations, hence the tax burden falls almost exclusively on the poor. Corruption leads to the concentration of assets among a few wealthy elites. Because earning power depends, to some extent, on resource endowment (including inherited wealth), the rich are able to use their wealth to consolidate their economic and political power further.

Social and Human Impact: Corruption’s corrosive influence seeps into the fabric of societies, inflicting social and human costs. It fosters a culture of mistrust, erodes social cohesion, and perpetuates inequality. Vulnerable populations are often hit the hardest, as resources meant for their welfare are siphoned away through corrupt practices. Furthermore, corruption can impede the delivery of essential services, exacerbating poverty and hindering human development.

As individuals shift their attention from the advancement of their nation to their own personal growth, the foundation of their value system starts to erode. This shift in focus results in a transformation of their objectives, with personal gain overshadowing their regard for human well-being. This shift is especially evident when observing instances where political leaders in African nations allocate substantial resources to benefit themselves, rather than investing in projects that foster national development. The prioritization of personal security has even surpassed the importance of national security, as demonstrated by their inclination to assign themselves generous health allowances. This enables them to seek medical treatment abroad, instead of contributing to the enhancement of local healthcare facilities that could benefit the entire population. The pervasive presence of corruption further exacerbates societal inequalities by creating distinct socioeconomic classes, ultimately deepening the divide between the affluent and the underprivileged.

Organizational Impact: Organizations, both public and private, are not immune to corruption’s grasp. Corrupt practices within institutions compromise their integrity, tarnish their reputation, and impede growth. Rampant corruption can lead to a lack of investor confidence, decreased foreign direct investment, and hindered economic progress.

When corruption permeates a nation’s institutions, its effects on organizations within the country are profound. Transparency vanishes, giving way to a lack of fairness and equity. The principles of a level playing field erode, and the market becomes driven by those who can offer the most money. Enterprises find themselves allocating additional resources to accomplish tasks, as their profits are diminished by the need to pay bribes. The quality of work and overall productivity decline, as nearly everything can be acquired through monetary means, undermining healthy competition and fostering monopolies.

Moreover, funds that the government collects in the form of taxes for growth and development are diverted toward granting personal favours to individuals

Conclusion

The impact of corruption on nations, individuals, and organizations is profound and far-reaching. The UN report’s revelations regarding the exorbitant financial costs of corruption serve as a wake-up call for concerted global efforts to combat this menace. The link between corruption and conflict underscores the urgency of addressing corruption to ensure global stability. In the African context, corruption’s devastating effects have hindered progress and perpetuated inequalities, highlighting the need for tailored solutions. By defining corruption’s various forms and understanding its diverse impacts, societies, and institutions can work together to forge a future that is free from the corrosive effects of corruption. As we navigate the complexities of corruption’s influence, a united front against this scourge offers hope for a more just, equitable, and prosperous world.

Africa Tech

Africa and Technology Development

Featured2 Comments

Advancements in technology have had a significant impact on the global economy. The African economy has been included, and technological advances are gradually transforming various sectors of the economy. This white paper will examine how technological advancements impact the African economy and the potential benefits and challenges of the technological revolution.

Africa is adapting to changes fast, and its population demographic (higher population of youths) has made it even easier for adoption.

How-technology-could-promote-growth-in-6-african-countries

The current state of technology in Africa

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in technology adoption in Africa. According to the World Bank, the number of internet users in Africa increased from 2.1% in 2005 to 28.2% in 2020. Mobile phone penetration has also increased, with over 500 million mobile phone subscribers in Africa. Additionally, the continent is seeing an increase in investments in technology, with various tech startups and accelerators emerging across the continent. Today, Africa has produced more unicorn companies from technology than any other in shorter times.

Increased access to information and communication

Advancements in technology have provided Africans with greater access to information and communication. With the rise of mobile phones and the internet, individuals and businesses can communicate and access data anywhere. This has improved productivity and efficiency in various sectors, such as healthcare, agriculture, and education.

Improved access to financial services

The rise of fintech startups in Africa has increased access to financial services, particularly for the unbanked and underbanked populations. Mobile money platforms, such as M-Pesa in Kenya, Paga, Flutterwave, MonniePoint, and ConnectPoint in Nigeria, have revolutionized how people send and receive money, pay bills, and access credit. This has provided opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses to access financial services, which has led to increased economic growth and reduced poverty levels.

Increased job opportunities

The rise of technology in Africa has created new job opportunities, particularly in the tech industry. The growth of tech startups and accelerators has led to the creation of jobs in various fields, such as software development, data analysis, and digital marketing. This has also led to increased innovation and competition, which has led to improved products and services across various sectors. In Nigeria alone, the Central Bank of Nigeria has licensed over 150 financial technology companies offering numerous services, creating at least 5,000 direct job opportunities supporting more than 500,000 Micro, Small, and Medium businesses nationwide. Technology has helped the African economy more than we thought, and there is still space for unexplored areas in manufacturing, Agriculture, healthcare, housing, etc.

Challenges of technology in Africa

Infrastructure

One of the significant challenges facing technology adoption in Africa is the need for adequate infrastructure. Governments and private sector stakeholders need to invest in infrastructure to support the growth of technology in Africa. Many parts of Africa still need access to reliable electricity and internet connectivity, which limits the potential of technology adoption in various sectors.

Skills gap

There is a significant skills gap in the African tech industry, particularly in software development and data analysis. This limits the potential of the tech industry to create more jobs and contribute to the economy’s growth. Governments and private sector stakeholders need to invest in education and training programs to bridge the skills gap in the tech industry.

Cybersecurity

The rise of technology has also increased the risk of cybercrime and cybersecurity threats in Africa. Many African countries lack adequate cybersecurity policies and infrastructure, which puts individuals and businesses at risk of cyber attacks. Governments and private sector stakeholders need to invest in cybersecurity infrastructure and policies to mitigate the risks of cyber attacks.

Education & Research

The current infrastructure of our educational sector needs to provide adequate support for research that could drive innovation. Whether it’s the education policies, infrastructure, or lack of appropriate research fellows, the impact and potential of such research still need to be explored. Despite the presence of technology and research investment by several companies in universities, they tend to offer grants to a select few who need proper oversight on utilizing such funding.

The government must intervene and provide support to unlock research and innovation potential in manufacturing, aerospace, drone technology, 3-d, and artificial intelligence. The government’s involvement in this sector can significantly shape the educational infrastructure and policies required to facilitate impactful research that can drive innovation and have real-world applications.

Africa needs to build her own using her talent and her resources.

Conclusion

Technology advancements can transform the African economy and create new opportunities for growth and development. However, to fully realize the potential of technology in Africa, there is a need for governments and private sector stakeholders to invest in infrastructure, education and training programs, and cybersecurity policies and infrastructure. By addressing these challenges, Africa can leverage technology to drive economic growth and improve the lives of its citizens.

You can also read my recent article here Rising Africa and her Opportunities

Rising Africa and her Opportunities

Featured1 Comment

Africa is home to diverse cultures, people, and landscapes, it’s a beautiful continent with over 54 countries today and islands. As of 2021, the estimated population of Africa is around 1.34 billion people. Africa is the world’s second most populous continent after Asia. The population of Africa is expected to continue growing rapidly, with estimates suggesting that it will reach 2.5 billion people by 2050. This means Africa it is for those with vision because there are lots of problems to be solved. The good news is that Africa is adopting technology faster than most other places around the world.

Here, I want to focus on payments in Africa and the emerging companies in this sector. Africa is a continent that has been experiencing rapid economic growth in recent years, with a young and dynamic population that is driving the demand for digital solutions. The payments landscape in Africa is evolving rapidly, with emerging companies leading the charge toward digital payments and financial inclusion.

Why Africa is the Investment Destination

Investing in Africa is a smart move for several reasons. First, Africa has a rapidly growing middle class, which is driving demand for goods and services. This creates a ripe environment for businesses to thrive and succeed. Second, Africa has a young and highly educated population that is eager to learn, innovate and contribute to the economy. This creates a fertile ground for innovation and entrepreneurship. Third, Africa has a vast and diverse natural resource base, which can be leveraged for economic growth and development.

How People can Invest in Africa

Investing in Africa has never been easier. There are several ways you can invest in Africa, including through stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mutual funds, and private equity. Investing in Africa through ETFs or mutual funds is an easy way to get exposure to the continent’s rapidly growing economies without having to manage individual stocks. But the focus of this article is investing in startups that building products that are solving real African problems from payment to commerce to health and agriculture and lots more.

Market Size and Potential of Return on Investments

The market size for payments in Africa is huge and growing rapidly. According to a report by McKinsey, Africa’s payment market is expected to reach $500 billion by 2025, up from $200 billion in 2019. This growth is being driven by the increased adoption of mobile and digital payments, as well as a push for financial inclusion. you can further read this by McKinsey; fintech-in-africa-the-end-of-the-beginning

Investing in Africa has the potential for high returns, but it is not without risks. As with any investment, it is important to do your due diligence and research the companies and markets you are investing in. However, with Africa’s vast potential, investing in payments in Africa can be a smart move for those looking to diversify their portfolio and capture the growth potential of this exciting and dynamic continent.

In conclusion, Africa is a continent that is full of opportunities and potential, especially when it comes to payments and digital solutions. As the payments landscape in Africa continues to evolve, emerging companies are leading the charge toward financial inclusion and digital transformation. Investing in Africa is a smart move for those looking to diversify their portfolio and capture the growth potential of this exciting continent.

Startups with Unicorn Status

Here are some of the African unicorn companies, which are privately held startups with a valuation of at least $1 billion:

  1. Jumia – an e-commerce platform operating in 14 African countries.
  2. Interswitch – a digital payments company providing services in Nigeria and other countries.
  3. Fawry – a digital payments company based in Egypt.
  4. OPay – a mobile payments and ride-hailing platform operating in Nigeria and other countries.
  5. Flutterwave – a digital payments platform operating in Nigeria and other countries.
  6. Chipper Cash – a cross-border payments platform operating in several African countries and the United States.
  7. Twiga Foods – a digital marketplace that connects farmers and food vendors in Kenya.
  8. Yoco – a digital payments company providing services to small businesses in South Africa.
  9. Andela – a talent development and outsourcing company operating in Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda.
  10. Jumo – a digital finance platform operating in several African countries.

These companies are a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and potential for growth in Africa’s tech and startup ecosystem.

you want to talk about investing? you can send me an email.

Steps to Successful Project, and Changing Technology Landscape

FeaturedLeave a comment

Introduction

Project management is the process of planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing the work of a team to achieve specific goals and meet specific success criteria at a specified time. The primary challenge of project management is to achieve all project goals within the given constraints.

In 2023, project management will likely continue to evolve and adapt to changing technology and business environments. Here are a few trends and developments that are likely to impact project management in the coming years:

  1. Increased use of remote teams: With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, more companies will continue to rely on remote teams, requiring project managers to have experience and skills in managing virtual teams.
  2. Greater use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation: Project managers will increasingly use AI to automate repetitive tasks, such as scheduling and resource allocation, which will help them to work more efficiently and effectively.
  3. Emphasis on agile methodologies: Agile project management methodologies, such as Scrum, will continue to gain popularity in 2023, as they allow organizations to adapt to changing requirements and market conditions quickly.
  4. Focus on sustainability and social responsibility: Companies are becoming more aware of the need to be socially responsible and sustainable in their operations, which will require project managers to consider these aspects when planning and executing projects.
  5. Cybersecurity: Project managers must be aware of the growing threat of cyber-attacks and take steps to protect their organizations’ data and systems.
  6. Greater use of data analytics: Project managers will leverage data analytics to make data-driven decisions, monitor project performance, and predict potential risks.

Overall, project management in 2023 will continue to focus on delivering projects on time, within budget and scope while considering the impact of the project on the people, processes, and technology.

Steps to prepare for project management and ensure the success of a project.

Step 1: Define the Project

The first step in preparing for project management is to define the project clearly. This includes identifying the project goals and objectives, as well as the project scope, deliverables, and constraints. These steps will help ensure that all stakeholders clearly understand what the project is and what is expected of them.

Step 2: Develop a Project Plan

The next step is to develop a project plan. This plan should include details such as the project schedule, budget, and resource requirements. It should also include a risk management plan to identify and mitigate potential risks. A well-developed project plan will help to ensure that the project stays on track and that all stakeholders are aware of the project’s progress.

Step 3: Assemble a Team

The third step is to assemble a team of qualified individuals to work on the project. The team should include individuals with the necessary skills, experience, and knowledge to meet the project’s objectives. It is also critical to define clear roles and responsibilities for each team member.

Step 4: Monitor and Control Progress

The fourth step is to monitor and control the project’s progress. This includes regularly reviewing the project schedule, budget, and resource usage to ensure that the project is on track. It also involves identifying and addressing any issues or problems that arise. By monitoring and controlling progress, the project manager can ensure that the project stays on track and that any issues are addressed in a timely manner.

Step 5: Close the Project

The final step is to close the project. They include completing all project deliverables, finalizing the project budget, and conducting a project post-mortem to identify what went well and what could be improved upon in future projects.

Conclusion

By following these steps, organizations can effectively prepare for project management and ensure the success of their projects. Defining the project, developing a project plan, assembling a team, monitoring and controlling progress, and closing the project are all critical steps in the project management process. By taking the time to prepare for project management properly, organizations can increase the likelihood of project success and achieve their desired outcomes.

DISCOVERING YOURSELF-3

Featured1 Comment

In our series of discovering yourself, we have shared several other ways of self-discovery, which include your background, and past and present experiences. In this series, we will be focusing on training and Skills, as tools for self-discovery. You sharpen your skills through training and constant exercise. Remeber these are excepts from my book, you can always buy this book from amazon here.

Your Training

You may have had several trainings based on interest or in the line of the work you do. From the story of the Ultimate Survival series I shared in your past experience. This training might be of immense value to some other people. I, for example, have attended several trainings both local and international, some were even online and free. These trainings have pointed out some skills I could offer without stress. So, go through your training and see the ones you have been applying over time. I have trained several people on how to write proposals, finance, project management, and how make presentations. All this I was able to do because of some of the trainings I have attended. The story of Serena Williams below buttresses the importance of training.

Serena Williams, born September 26, 1981, found her passion at the age of three (3) after starting intensive training supported by her father who was also her coach then. She continued training and playing until 1999, that’s 15 years later when she won her major title, becoming one of the youngest players to win a major title. Since then she has gone ahead to win over 37 titles including singles and doubles, this is one of the biggest feats achieved by any single woman tennis player, she was ranked No.1 in Women Tennis Association (WTA) in 2018.

Serena found her passion through training and since then has been very consistent. She is a very diligent trainer. Your training can be a pointer to who you are and your capabilities. Take Cristiano Ronaldo as another example; he trained hard daily to become one of the world’s greatest footballers, winning the FIFA Ballon d’Or four times. I could give examples of so many other athletes and professionals who trained hard to reach the peak of their careers and become well known all over the world.

As a trainer and coach, I have come to realise that my trainings make up some of the products I develop for my company today. Your training means you have been equipped with information and potential tools to succeed in that endeavor or field. Training is an information dishing period and it helps you become better in taking critical decisions. In Malcolm Gladwell’s book, “the Outliers” he mentioned the ten-thousand-hour rule. He said from research those who have worked on something or trained in a particular field become professionals after they have worked in that field for ten- thousand- hours. Training makes you an expert in that field, don’t take it for granted. Train like your life depends on it, through training you can develop that innate potential and fire them to live.

Your Skills

Check out those skills you apply without stress, those things you do seemingly effortlessly and better than most people. They are strong pointers to who you are, don’t take them lightly, instead, take them seriously. Take football, for example, Lionel Messi was discovered to be very skillful at an early age. And today he is one of the best things to have happened to football in the 21st century. Below is his story as told here: Lionel Messi was born on 24 June 1987, in Rosario, Argentina to a working-class family. His father was a factory steel worker, and his mother a cleaner.

He began playing from an early age, and his talent was soon apparent. However, at the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with growth 20 hormone deficiency (GHD). This was a condition that stunted growth and required expensive medical treatment, including the use of the drug Human growth hormone. His local club, River Plate was interested in signing Messi but didn’t want to pay for his medical treatment. However, Messi was given a trial with Barcelona, and Coach CarlesRexach was impressed – offering Messi a contract, which included paying for Messi’s treatment in Spain. Messi moved to Barcelona with his father and became part of the prestigious FC Barcelona youth academy.

“I made a lot of sacrifices by leaving Argentina, leaving my family to start a new life. But everything I did, I did for football, to achieve my dream. That’s why I didn’t go out partying, or do a lot of other things.” – Lionel Messi

Messi progressed through the ranks and was given his first appearance in the 2004/05 seasons, becoming the youngest player to score a league goal. In 2006, Messi was part of the double-winning team which won both La Liga (Spanish League) and the Champions League. By the next season, (2006-07) aged just 20, Messi was the first-choice striker and an essential part of the Barcelona team – scoring 14 goals in 26 league games.

In the 2009-10 season, Messi scored 47 goals in all competitions, equalling Ronaldo’s record total for Barcelona. As the seasons progressed, Messi kept improving and breaking his own records. In the calendar year 2012, he broke the all-time world record for most goals scored in a calendar year. His final total of goals in 2012 was 91 – beating the previous record of 85 by German Gerd Muller, and Pele’s milestone of 75 in 1958. This is what Gerd Muller said about him:

“My record stood for 40 years 85 goals in a year and now the best player in the world has broken it, and I’m delighted for him. He is an incredible player, gigantic.”

In today’s world, you can’t even survive without a critical skill. That is why you must discover what they are, or train to acquire one. Skills are the differentiating factor in today’s workforce and they determine the level you operate in any society or group. You are valued based on your skills and the value you add to people and organizations.

Develop your skills by training.

To your Success

Lawrence Obi

Privacy Policy

PRIVACY NOTICE

Last updated September 28, 2024



This Privacy Notice for Lawrenceobi.com (‘we‘, ‘us‘, or ‘our‘), describes how and why we might access, collect, store, use, and/or share (‘process‘) your personal information when you use our services (‘Services‘), including when you:
  • Engage with us in other related ways, including any sales, marketing, or events
Questions or concerns? Reading this Privacy Notice will help you understand your privacy rights and choices. We are responsible for making decisions about how your personal information is processed. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Services. If you still have any questions or concerns, please contact us at info@lawrenceobi.com.


SUMMARY OF KEY POINTS

This summary provides key points from our Privacy Notice, but you can find out more details about any of these topics by clicking the link following each key point or by using our table of contents below to find the section you are looking for.

What personal information do we process? When you visit, use, or navigate our Services, we may process personal information depending on how you interact with us and the Services, the choices you make, and the products and features you use. Learn more about personal information you disclose to us.

Do we process any sensitive personal information? Some of the information may be considered ‘special’ or ‘sensitive’ in certain jurisdictions, for example your racial or ethnic origins, sexual orientation, and religious beliefs. We do not process sensitive personal information.

Do we collect any information from third parties? We do not collect any information from third parties.

How do we process your information? We process your information to provide, improve, and administer our Services, communicate with you, for security and fraud prevention, and to comply with law. We may also process your information for other purposes with your consent. We process your information only when we have a valid legal reason to do so. Learn more about how we process your information.

In what situations and with which parties do we share personal information? We may share information in specific situations and with specific third parties. Learn more about when and with whom we share your personal information.

How do we keep your information safe? We have adequate organisational and technical processes and procedures in place to protect your personal information. However, no electronic transmission over the internet or information storage technology can be guaranteed to be 100% secure, so we cannot promise or guarantee that hackers, cybercriminals, or other unauthorised third parties will not be able to defeat our security and improperly collect, access, steal, or modify your information. Learn more about how we keep your information safe.

What are your rights? Depending on where you are located geographically, the applicable privacy law may mean you have certain rights regarding your personal information. Learn more about your privacy rights.

How do you exercise your rights? The easiest way to exercise your rights is by submitting a data subject access request, or by contacting us. We will consider and act upon any request in accordance with applicable data protection laws.

Want to learn more about what we do with any information we collect? Review the Privacy Notice in full.


TABLE OF CONTENTS



1. WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?

Personal information you disclose to us

In Short: We collect personal information that you provide to us.

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you register on the Services, express an interest in obtaining information about us or our products and Services, when you participate in activities on the Services, or otherwise when you contact us.

Personal Information Provided by You. The personal information that we collect depends on the context of your interactions with us and the Services, the choices you make, and the products and features you use. The personal information we collect may include the following:
  • names
  • email addresses
Sensitive Information. We do not process sensitive information.

All personal information that you provide to us must be true, complete, and accurate, and you must notify us of any changes to such personal information.


2. HOW DO WE PROCESS YOUR INFORMATION?

In Short: We process your information to provide, improve, and administer our Services, communicate with you, for security and fraud prevention, and to comply with law. We may also process your information for other purposes with your consent.

We process your personal information for a variety of reasons, depending on how you interact with our Services, including:
  • To facilitate account creation and authentication and otherwise manage user accounts. We may process your information so you can create and log in to your account, as well as keep your account in working order.

  • To save or protect an individual’s vital interest. We may process your information when necessary to save or protect an individual’s vital interest, such as to prevent harm.

3. WHAT LEGAL BASES DO WE RELY ON TO PROCESS YOUR INFORMATION?

In Short: We only process your personal information when we believe it is necessary and we have a valid legal reason (i.e. legal basis) to do so under applicable law, like with your consent, to comply with laws, to provide you with services to enter into or fulfil our contractual obligations, to protect your rights, or to fulfil our legitimate business interests.

If you are located in the EU or UK, this section applies to you.

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and UK GDPR require us to explain the valid legal bases we rely on in order to process your personal information. As such, we may rely on the following legal bases to process your personal information:
  • Consent. We may process your information if you have given us permission (i.e. consent) to use your personal information for a specific purpose. You can withdraw your consent at any time. Learn more about withdrawing your consent.
  • Legal Obligations. We may process your information where we believe it is necessary for compliance with our legal obligations, such as to cooperate with a law enforcement body or regulatory agency, exercise or defend our legal rights, or disclose your information as evidence in litigation in which we are involved.
  • Vital Interests. We may process your information where we believe it is necessary to protect your vital interests or the vital interests of a third party, such as situations involving potential threats to the safety of any person.
If you are located in Canada, this section applies to you.

We may process your information if you have given us specific permission (i.e. express consent) to use your personal information for a specific purpose, or in situations where your permission can be inferred (i.e. implied consent). You can withdraw your consent at any time.

In some exceptional cases, we may be legally permitted under applicable law to process your information without your consent, including, for example:
  • If collection is clearly in the interests of an individual and consent cannot be obtained in a timely way
  • For investigations and fraud detection and prevention
  • For business transactions provided certain conditions are met
  • If it is contained in a witness statement and the collection is necessary to assess, process, or settle an insurance claim
  • For identifying injured, ill, or deceased persons and communicating with next of kin
  • If we have reasonable grounds to believe an individual has been, is, or may be victim of financial abuse
  • If it is reasonable to expect collection and use with consent would compromise the availability or the accuracy of the information and the collection is reasonable for purposes related to investigating a breach of an agreement or a contravention of the laws of Canada or a province
  • If disclosure is required to comply with a subpoena, warrant, court order, or rules of the court relating to the production of records
  • If it was produced by an individual in the course of their employment, business, or profession and the collection is consistent with the purposes for which the information was produced
  • If the collection is solely for journalistic, artistic, or literary purposes
  • If the information is publicly available and is specified by the regulations

4. WHEN AND WITH WHOM DO WE SHARE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?

In Short: We may share information in specific situations described in this section and/or with the following third parties.

We may need to share your personal information in the following situations:
  • Business Transfers. We may share or transfer your information in connection with, or during negotiations of, any merger, sale of company assets, financing, or acquisition of all or a portion of our business to another company.

5. WHAT IS OUR STANCE ON THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES?

In Short: We are not responsible for the safety of any information that you share with third parties that we may link to or who advertise on our Services, but are not affiliated with, our Services.

The Services may link to third-party websites, online services, or mobile applications and/or contain advertisements from third parties that are not affiliated with us and which may link to other websites, services, or applications. Accordingly, we do not make any guarantee regarding any such third parties, and we will not be liable for any loss or damage caused by the use of such third-party websites, services, or applications. The inclusion of a link towards a third-party website, service, or application does not imply an endorsement by us. We cannot guarantee the safety and privacy of data you provide to any third-party websites. Any data collected by third parties is not covered by this Privacy Notice. We are not responsible for the content or privacy and security practices and policies of any third parties, including other websites, services, or applications that may be linked to or from the Services. You should review the policies of such third parties and contact them directly to respond to your questions.

6. DO WE USE COOKIES AND OTHER TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES?

In Short: We may use cookies and other tracking technologies to collect and store your information.

We may use cookies and similar tracking technologies (like web beacons and pixels) to gather information when you interact with our Services. Some online tracking technologies help us maintain the security of our Services and your account, prevent crashes, fix bugs, save your preferences, and assist with basic site functions.

We also permit third parties and service providers to use online tracking technologies on our Services for analytics and advertising, including to help manage and display advertisements, to tailor advertisements to your interests, or to send abandoned shopping cart reminders (depending on your communication preferences). The third parties and service providers use their technology to provide advertising about products and services tailored to your interests which may appear either on our Services or on other websites.

To the extent these online tracking technologies are deemed to be a ‘sale’/’sharing’ (which includes targeted advertising, as defined under the applicable laws) under applicable US state laws, you can opt out of these online tracking technologies by submitting a request as described below under section ‘DO UNITED STATES RESIDENTS HAVE SPECIFIC PRIVACY RIGHTS?‘

Specific information about how we use such technologies and how you can refuse certain cookies is set out in our Cookie Notice.

Google Analytics

We may share your information with Google Analytics to track and analyse the use of the Services. The Google Analytics Advertising Features that we may use include: Google Analytics Demographics and Interests Reporting. To opt out of being tracked by Google Analytics across the Services, visit https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. You can opt out of Google Analytics Advertising Features through Ads Settings and Ad Settings for mobile apps. Other opt out means include http://optout.networkadvertising.org/ and http://www.networkadvertising.org/mobile-choice. For more information on the privacy practices of Google, please visit the Google Privacy & Terms page.

7. HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION?

In Short: We keep your information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes outlined in this Privacy Notice unless otherwise required by law.

We will only keep your personal information for as long as it is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Notice, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law (such as tax, accounting, or other legal requirements). No purpose in this notice will require us keeping your personal information for longer than the period of time in which users have an account with us.

When we have no ongoing legitimate business need to process your personal information, we will either delete or anonymise such information, or, if this is not possible (for example, because your personal information has been stored in backup archives), then we will securely store your personal information and isolate it from any further processing until deletion is possible.

8. HOW DO WE KEEP YOUR INFORMATION SAFE?

In Short: We aim to protect your personal information through a system of organisational and technical security measures.

We have implemented appropriate and reasonable technical and organisational security measures designed to protect the security of any personal information we process. However, despite our safeguards and efforts to secure your information, no electronic transmission over the Internet or information storage technology can be guaranteed to be 100% secure, so we cannot promise or guarantee that hackers, cybercriminals, or other unauthorised third parties will not be able to defeat our security and improperly collect, access, steal, or modify your information. Although we will do our best to protect your personal information, transmission of personal information to and from our Services is at your own risk. You should only access the Services within a secure environment.

9. DO WE COLLECT INFORMATION FROM MINORS?

In Short: We do not knowingly collect data from or market to children under 18 years of age.

We do not knowingly collect, solicit data from, or market to children under 18 years of age, nor do we knowingly sell such personal information. By using the Services, you represent that you are at least 18 or that you are the parent or guardian of such a minor and consent to such minor dependent’s use of the Services. If we learn that personal information from users less than 18 years of age has been collected, we will deactivate the account and take reasonable measures to promptly delete such data from our records. If you become aware of any data we may have collected from children under age 18, please contact us at info@lawrenceobi.com.

10. WHAT ARE YOUR PRIVACY RIGHTS?

In Short: Depending on your state of residence in the US or in some regions, such as the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom (UK), Switzerland, and Canada, you have rights that allow you greater access to and control over your personal information. You may review, change, or terminate your account at any time, depending on your country, province, or state of residence.

In some regions (like the EEA, UK, Switzerland, and Canada), you have certain rights under applicable data protection laws. These may include the right (i) to request access and obtain a copy of your personal information, (ii) to request rectification or erasure; (iii) to restrict the processing of your personal information; (iv) if applicable, to data portability; and (v) not to be subject to automated decision-making. In certain circumstances, you may also have the right to object to the processing of your personal information. You can make such a request by contacting us by using the contact details provided in the section ‘HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS NOTICE?‘ below.

We will consider and act upon any request in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
 
If you are located in the EEA or UK and you believe we are unlawfully processing your personal information, you also have the right to complain to your Member State data protection authority or UK data protection authority.

If you are located in Switzerland, you may contact the Federal Data Protection and Information Commissioner.

Withdrawing your consent: If we are relying on your consent to process your personal information, which may be express and/or implied consent depending on the applicable law, you have the right to withdraw your consent at any time. You can withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us by using the contact details provided in the section ‘HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS NOTICE?‘ below or updating your preferences.

However, please note that this will not affect the lawfulness of the processing before its withdrawal nor, when applicable law allows, will it affect the processing of your personal information conducted in reliance on lawful processing grounds other than consent.

Opting out of marketing and promotional communications: You can unsubscribe from our marketing and promotional communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the emails that we send, or by contacting us using the details provided in the section ‘HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS NOTICE?‘ below. You will then be removed from the marketing lists. However, we may still communicate with you — for example, to send you service-related messages that are necessary for the administration and use of your account, to respond to service requests, or for other non-marketing purposes.

Account Information

If you would at any time like to review or change the information in your account or terminate your account, you can:
  • Log in to your account settings and update your user account.
Upon your request to terminate your account, we will deactivate or delete your account and information from our active databases. However, we may retain some information in our files to prevent fraud, troubleshoot problems, assist with any investigations, enforce our legal terms and/or comply with applicable legal requirements.

Cookies and similar technologies: Most Web browsers are set to accept cookies by default. If you prefer, you can usually choose to set your browser to remove cookies and to reject cookies. If you choose to remove cookies or reject cookies, this could affect certain features or services of our Services. You may also opt out of interest-based advertising by advertisers on our Services.

If you have questions or comments about your privacy rights, you may email us at info@lawrenceobi.com.

11. CONTROLS FOR DO-NOT-TRACK FEATURES

Most web browsers and some mobile operating systems and mobile applications include a Do-Not-Track (‘DNT’) feature or setting you can activate to signal your privacy preference not to have data about your online browsing activities monitored and collected. At this stage, no uniform technology standard for recognising and implementing DNT signals has been finalised. As such, we do not currently respond to DNT browser signals or any other mechanism that automatically communicates your choice not to be tracked online. If a standard for online tracking is adopted that we must follow in the future, we will inform you about that practice in a revised version of this Privacy Notice.

California law requires us to let you know how we respond to web browser DNT signals. Because there currently is not an industry or legal standard for recognising or honouring DNT signals, we do not respond to them at this time.

12. DO UNITED STATES RESIDENTS HAVE SPECIFIC PRIVACY RIGHTS?

In Short: If you are a resident of California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, or Virginia, you may have the right to request access to and receive details about the personal information we maintain about you and how we have processed it, correct inaccuracies, get a copy of, or delete your personal information. You may also have the right to withdraw your consent to our processing of your personal information. These rights may be limited in some circumstances by applicable law. More information is provided below.

Categories of Personal Information We Collect

We have collected the following categories of personal information in the past twelve (12) months:

CategoryExamplesCollected
A. Identifiers
Contact details, such as real name, alias, postal address, telephone or mobile contact number, unique personal identifier, online identifier, Internet Protocol address, email address, and account name

NO

B. Personal information as defined in the California Customer Records statute
Name, contact information, education, employment, employment history, and financial information

NO

C. Protected classification characteristics under state or federal law
Gender, age, date of birth, race and ethnicity, national origin, marital status, and other demographic data

NO

D. Commercial information
Transaction information, purchase history, financial details, and payment information

NO

E. Biometric information
Fingerprints and voiceprints

NO

F. Internet or other similar network activity
Browsing history, search history, online behaviour, interest data, and interactions with our and other websites, applications, systems, and advertisements

NO

G. Geolocation data
Device location

NO

H. Audio, electronic, sensory, or similar information
Images and audio, video or call recordings created in connection with our business activities

NO

I. Professional or employment-related information
Business contact details in order to provide you our Services at a business level or job title, work history, and professional qualifications if you apply for a job with us

NO

J. Education Information
Student records and directory information

NO

K. Inferences drawn from collected personal information
Inferences drawn from any of the collected personal information listed above to create a profile or summary about, for example, an individual’s preferences and characteristics

NO

L. Sensitive personal Information

NO


We may also collect other personal information outside of these categories through instances where you interact with us in person, online, or by phone or mail in the context of:
  • Receiving help through our customer support channels;
  • Participation in customer surveys or contests; and
  • Facilitation in the delivery of our Services and to respond to your inquiries.
We will use and retain the collected personal information as needed to provide the Services or for:
  • Category H – As long as the user has an account with us
Sources of Personal Information

Learn more about the sources of personal information we collect in ‘WHAT INFORMATION DO WE COLLECT?‘

How We Use and Share Personal Information

Learn about how we use your personal information in the section, ‘HOW DO WE PROCESS YOUR INFORMATION?‘

Will your information be shared with anyone else?

We may disclose your personal information with our service providers pursuant to a written contract between us and each service provider. Learn more about how we disclose personal information to in the section, ‘WHEN AND WITH WHOM DO WE SHARE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION?‘

We may use your personal information for our own business purposes, such as for undertaking internal research for technological development and demonstration. This is not considered to be ‘selling’ of your personal information.

We have not disclosed, sold, or shared any personal information to third parties for a business or commercial purpose in the preceding twelve (12) months. We will not sell or share personal information in the future belonging to website visitors, users, and other consumers.

Your Rights

You have rights under certain US state data protection laws. However, these rights are not absolute, and in certain cases, we may decline your request as permitted by law. These rights include:
  • Right to know whether or not we are processing your personal data
  • Right to access your personal data
  • Right to correct inaccuracies in your personal data
  • Right to request the deletion of your personal data
  • Right to obtain a copy of the personal data you previously shared with us
  • Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights
  • Right to opt out of the processing of your personal data if it is used for targeted advertising (or sharing as defined under California’s privacy law), the sale of personal data, or profiling in furtherance of decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects (‘profiling’)
Depending upon the state where you live, you may also have the following rights:
  • Right to obtain a list of the categories of third parties to which we have disclosed personal data (as permitted by applicable law, including California’s and Delaware’s privacy law)
  • Right to obtain a list of specific third parties to which we have disclosed personal data (as permitted by applicable law, including Oregon’s privacy law)
  • Right to limit use and disclosure of sensitive personal data (as permitted by applicable law, including California’s privacy law)
  • Right to opt out of the collection of sensitive data and personal data collected through the operation of a voice or facial recognition feature (as permitted by applicable law, including Florida’s privacy law)
How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise these rights, you can contact us by submitting a data subject access request, by visiting https://www.lawrenceobi.com/about-me-2/, or by referring to the contact details at the bottom of this document.

Under certain US state data protection laws, you can designate an authorised agent to make a request on your behalf. We may deny a request from an authorised agent that does not submit proof that they have been validly authorised to act on your behalf in accordance with applicable laws.

Request Verification

Upon receiving your request, we will need to verify your identity to determine you are the same person about whom we have the information in our system. We will only use personal information provided in your request to verify your identity or authority to make the request. However, if we cannot verify your identity from the information already maintained by us, we may request that you provide additional information for the purposes of verifying your identity and for security or fraud-prevention purposes.

If you submit the request through an authorised agent, we may need to collect additional information to verify your identity before processing your request and the agent will need to provide a written and signed permission from you to submit such request on your behalf.

Appeals

Under certain US state data protection laws, if we decline to take action regarding your request, you may appeal our decision by emailing us at info@lawrenceobi.com. We will inform you in writing of any action taken or not taken in response to the appeal, including a written explanation of the reasons for the decisions. If your appeal is denied, you may submit a complaint to your state attorney general.

California ‘Shine The Light’ Law

California Civil Code Section 1798.83, also known as the ‘Shine The Light’ law, permits our users who are California residents to request and obtain from us, once a year and free of charge, information about categories of personal information (if any) we disclosed to third parties for direct marketing purposes and the names and addresses of all third parties with which we shared personal information in the immediately preceding calendar year. If you are a California resident and would like to make such a request, please submit your request in writing to us by using the contact details provided in the section ‘HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS NOTICE?‘

13. DO WE MAKE UPDATES TO THIS NOTICE?

In Short: Yes, we will update this notice as necessary to stay compliant with relevant laws.

We may update this Privacy Notice from time to time. The updated version will be indicated by an updated ‘Revised’ date at the top of this Privacy Notice. If we make material changes to this Privacy Notice, we may notify you either by prominently posting a notice of such changes or by directly sending you a notification. We encourage you to review this Privacy Notice frequently to be informed of how we are protecting your information.

14. HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US ABOUT THIS NOTICE?

If you have questions or comments about this notice, you may email us at info@lawrenceobi.com or contact us by post at:

Lawrenceobi.com
__________
__________
United Kingdom

15. HOW CAN YOU REVIEW, UPDATE, OR DELETE THE DATA WE COLLECT FROM YOU?

Based on the applicable laws of your country or state of residence in the US, you may have the right to request access to the personal information we collect from you, details about how we have processed it, correct inaccuracies, or delete your personal information. You may also have the right to withdraw your consent to our processing of your personal information. These rights may be limited in some circumstances by applicable law. To request to review, update, or delete your personal information, please fill out and submit a data subject access request.