Contact Us

Terms & Conditions

1. Introduction

Welcome to the official digital platform of the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike (“NRCRI”, “the Institute”, “we”, “our”, or “us”).

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the NRCRI website, including its pages, online services, forms, publications, research resources, documents, images, databases, digital materials, and other content made available through the website.

By accessing or using the website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to comply with these Terms. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you should discontinue use of the website.

These Terms should be read together with our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy, which form part of our approach to responsible use of the website and protection of personal information.

2. About NRCRI

The National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, is a Federal Government agricultural research institution established to undertake research and related activities in root, tuber, and other agricultural crops and technologies, and to contribute to agricultural development, food security, innovation, and improved livelihoods.

The website provides institutional information and digital resources relating to the Institute’s research, programmes, activities, publications, technologies, services, announcements, events, and other areas of public and stakeholder interest.

3. Acceptance of These Terms

By accessing, browsing, or using the website, you agree to:

  • Use the website lawfully and responsibly;

  • Comply with these Terms;

  • Respect the rights of NRCRI and third parties;

  • Provide accurate information when submitting information through online services;

  • Avoid activities that could compromise website security or availability; and

  • Comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

If you are using the website on behalf of an organization or institution, you confirm that you have the authority to accept these Terms on its behalf.

4. Permitted Use

The website is provided primarily to facilitate access to institutional information, agricultural research, knowledge resources, publications, announcements, programmes, services, and other legitimate information relating to NRCRI.

You may use website content for lawful purposes, including:

  • Personal research and educational purposes;

  • Academic and scientific reference;

  • Agricultural development and extension activities;

  • Professional or institutional research;

  • News and informational purposes;

  • Non-commercial educational activities; and

  • Other purposes permitted by applicable law.

Where content is reproduced or referenced, appropriate acknowledgement of NRCRI and the original source should be provided.

5. Prohibited Uses

You must not use the website or its resources to:

  • Violate any applicable law or regulation;

  • Gain unauthorized access to systems, accounts, databases, or restricted information;

  • Introduce viruses, malware, malicious code, or other harmful technologies;

  • Attempt to disrupt, disable, overload, or interfere with the website;

  • Conduct unauthorized scanning, probing, penetration testing, or other attacks;

  • Circumvent security or access controls;

  • Use automated systems to excessively scrape, copy, or harvest website information without authorization;

  • Misrepresent your identity or affiliation with NRCRI;

  • Impersonate the Institute, its officers, employees, researchers, representatives, or partners;

  • Use NRCRI content in a misleading or fraudulent manner;

  • Submit false, unlawful, defamatory, threatening, or abusive material;

  • Upload content that infringes another person’s intellectual-property or privacy rights;

  • Use the website to distribute unsolicited commercial communications or spam; or

  • Engage in any activity that could damage the reputation, security, operation, or legitimate interests of NRCRI.

NRCRI reserves the right to restrict or terminate access to website services where reasonably necessary to protect the website, its users, the Institute, or third parties.

6. Website Content

NRCRI makes reasonable efforts to ensure that information published on the website is accurate, relevant, and current.

However, information may occasionally contain errors, omissions, typographical mistakes, outdated information, or information that has changed since publication.

Website content may therefore be updated, amended, corrected, replaced, or withdrawn without prior notice.

The publication of information on the website does not necessarily constitute a formal representation, undertaking, guarantee, or binding commitment by NRCRI unless expressly stated otherwise.

7. Research and Scientific Information

NRCRI publishes and provides access to scientific, agricultural, technical, educational, and research-related information through its digital platforms.

Research findings, technical information, recommendations, agricultural practices, technologies, data, publications, and other scientific materials are provided for their stated purposes.

Users should consider the context, date, methodology, geographic conditions, environmental factors, crop varieties, farming systems, and other relevant circumstances before applying research findings or technical recommendations.

Where appropriate, users should obtain professional or technical advice before implementing recommendations that may materially affect agricultural production, land, crops, livestock, resources, finances, or safety.

8. No Guarantee of Agricultural Results

Information made available through the website is not a guarantee of particular agricultural, commercial, financial, environmental, or production outcomes.

Agricultural results may depend on numerous factors, including weather, soil conditions, crop variety, farming practices, pests, diseases, input quality, location, management, market conditions, and other circumstances beyond the Institute’s control.

NRCRI does not guarantee that the application of any research finding, technology, recommendation, method, or agricultural practice will produce a specific result in every circumstance.

9. Publications and Documents

NRCRI may make reports, research papers, technical manuals, guidelines, datasets, newsletters, photographs, presentations, policy documents, publications, and other resources available through the website.

Unless otherwise stated, such materials remain subject to applicable intellectual-property rights.

Users may download or reference materials where the website permits such use, provided that:

  • The material is not misrepresented;

  • Appropriate attribution is retained;

  • Copyright and other notices are not removed;

  • The material is not presented as the user’s own work; and

  • Any additional restrictions stated alongside the material are respected.

Commercial reproduction, substantial redistribution, modification, or republication may require prior written authorization.

10. Intellectual Property Rights

Unless otherwise indicated, content published by NRCRI through the website may include materials protected by copyright, trademarks, database rights, design rights, or other intellectual-property rights.

Such materials may include:

  • Text;

  • Research publications;

  • Reports;

  • Photographs;

  • Graphics;

  • Logos;

  • Institutional branding;

  • Videos;

  • Audio;

  • Infographics;

  • Databases;

  • Software;

  • Website design elements; and

  • Other digital materials.

Nothing in these Terms transfers ownership of NRCRI intellectual property to you.

You may not reproduce, modify, distribute, publicly display, commercially exploit, or create derivative works from protected content except where permitted by law or expressly authorized by NRCRI.

11. NRCRI Name, Logo and Branding

The name, logo, insignia, marks, branding, and other identifying materials associated with NRCRI may not be used in a manner that:

  • Suggests unauthorized endorsement;

  • Creates a false association with the Institute;

  • Misrepresents an individual’s or organization’s relationship with NRCRI;

  • Implies official approval where none exists; or

  • Violates applicable intellectual-property or institutional requirements.

Permission may be required for certain uses of institutional branding.

12. User-Submitted Information

Certain website features may allow users to submit information through contact forms, enquiries, applications, registrations, feedback forms, surveys, or other digital services.

When submitting information, you agree that:

  • The information you provide is accurate to the best of your knowledge;

  • You have the right to provide the information;

  • The information does not knowingly contain unlawful or malicious material;

  • You will not submit another person’s personal information without appropriate authority or lawful basis; and

  • You will not use the website’s submission functions for unauthorized or abusive purposes.

Personal information submitted through the website will be handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and applicable data-protection requirements.

13. Communications with NRCRI

Submitting an enquiry, application, request, message, or other communication through the website does not automatically create an official contractual relationship with NRCRI.

Where a communication requires an official response, the Institute may respond through appropriate institutional channels.

Users should not treat automated acknowledgements, website notifications, or submission confirmations as evidence that a request has been approved, accepted, or formally concluded unless the Institute expressly confirms this.

14. Events, Programmes and Applications

Information relating to conferences, workshops, training programmes, recruitment, fellowships, research opportunities, agricultural programmes, applications, and other institutional activities may be published on the website.

Specific programmes or opportunities may have additional eligibility requirements, deadlines, application procedures, terms, or conditions.

Where additional terms apply, those terms will take precedence over these general Terms to the extent of any inconsistency.

NRCRI reserves the right to amend, suspend, postpone, or cancel programmes, events, or opportunities where circumstances reasonably require.

15. External Links

The website may contain links to external websites, government platforms, research organizations, universities, development partners, journals, databases, social-media platforms, and other third-party resources.

External links are provided for convenience, reference, information, or collaboration.

NRCRI does not necessarily endorse, approve, control, or assume responsibility for the content, accuracy, availability, security, privacy practices, or services of external websites.

Accessing an external website is undertaken at the user’s own discretion.

16. Third-Party Services

Certain website functions may depend on third-party technologies or services.

These may include hosting services, analytics platforms, mapping services, communication tools, embedded media, online forms, payment or registration services where applicable, security services, or other technical providers.

Third-party services may have their own terms, privacy policies, and conditions of use.

NRCRI is not responsible for matters arising solely from a third party’s independent service or platform.

17. Website Availability

NRCRI seeks to maintain a reliable and accessible website but does not guarantee that the website will always be:

  • Available;

  • Uninterrupted;

  • Error-free;

  • Free from technical defects;

  • Free from viruses or other harmful components; or

  • Compatible with every device, browser, operating system, or network.

The website may occasionally be unavailable due to maintenance, upgrades, security measures, technical failures, network issues, or circumstances beyond the Institute’s reasonable control.

18. Website Security

Users must not attempt to compromise the security or integrity of the website or any system connected to it.

NRCRI may implement technical and organizational security measures to protect its website and digital infrastructure.

However, no online platform can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Users are responsible for maintaining the security of their own devices, accounts, passwords, and internet connections.

19. Privacy and Data Protection

NRCRI respects the privacy of individuals who use its digital platforms.

Personal information collected through the website is processed in accordance with the Institute’s Privacy Policy and applicable Nigerian data-protection laws.

Users should review the Privacy Policy to understand how personal information may be collected, used, disclosed, retained, and protected.

20. Cookies

NRCRI may use cookies and similar technologies to support essential website functionality, security, preferences, analytics, and performance.

The use of cookies is governed by the Institute’s Cookie Policy.

Users may be able to manage certain cookie preferences through available website controls or their browser settings.

21. Accuracy of Information

While NRCRI makes reasonable efforts to ensure that information published on the website is accurate and current, we do not guarantee that all information will always be complete, accurate, current, or suitable for every purpose.

Users should verify important information with the relevant NRCRI department or official source where necessary.

This is particularly important where information relates to:

  • Application deadlines;

  • Events;

  • Research findings;

  • Agricultural recommendations;

  • Programme requirements;

  • Institutional announcements;

  • Contact information; or

  • Other time-sensitive matters.

22. No Professional or Specialized Advice

Information provided through the website is intended primarily for general educational, scientific, agricultural, institutional, and informational purposes.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, website content should not be interpreted as personalized legal, financial, medical, agricultural, engineering, environmental, or other professional advice.

Where a matter requires specialized advice, users should consult an appropriately qualified professional or relevant authority.

23. Limitation of Liability

To the extent permitted by applicable law, NRCRI shall not be responsible for losses, damages, costs, or consequences arising directly or indirectly from:

  • Reliance on website information;

  • Errors or omissions in website content;

  • Temporary website unavailability;

  • Technical failures;

  • Internet or network interruptions;

  • Unauthorized access or malicious attacks;

  • Third-party websites or services;

  • Use or misuse of research information;

  • Agricultural decisions made based on website materials; or

  • Other circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Institute.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude or limit any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited under applicable Nigerian law.

24. Indemnity

To the extent permitted by applicable law, users agree to take responsibility for losses, claims, liabilities, or reasonable costs arising from their unlawful or unauthorized use of the website, including infringement of third-party rights or violation of these Terms.

This provision does not require users to indemnify NRCRI for matters caused solely by the Institute’s own unlawful conduct or liability that cannot legally be transferred to another party.

25. Public-Sector and Institutional Information

As a Federal Government research institution, NRCRI may be subject to laws, regulations, government policies, public-sector administrative requirements, records-management obligations, research standards, and transparency requirements.

Certain institutional information may therefore be published or made available to the public where required or permitted by applicable law or government policy.

Nothing in these Terms restricts the Institute from complying with lawful governmental, regulatory, judicial, archival, research, transparency, or public-record obligations.

26. Copyright and Permitted Reproduction

Where applicable law permits limited reproduction of copyright material for purposes such as research, education, criticism, review, reporting, or other lawful purposes, such use remains subject to applicable legal requirements.

Where NRCRI content is reproduced under a lawful exception or with permission, users should clearly identify NRCRI and retain relevant source and copyright information.

Unauthorized commercial exploitation or substantial reproduction of protected content may require prior written permission.

27. Suspension or Restriction of Access

NRCRI may restrict, suspend, or terminate access to all or part of the website where reasonably necessary to:

  • Protect website security;

  • Prevent abuse;

  • Investigate unauthorized activity;

  • Comply with legal requirements;

  • Protect users or third parties;

  • Perform maintenance or upgrades; or

  • Protect the legitimate interests of the Institute.

Where appropriate, access may be restored after the relevant issue has been addressed.

28. Changes to These Terms

NRCRI may update these Terms from time to time to reflect changes in:

  • Applicable legislation;

  • Government policies;

  • Institutional practices;

  • Website functionality;

  • Digital services;

  • Research activities; or

  • Other relevant circumstances.

Updated Terms will be published through appropriate institutional channels.

Your continued use of the website after updated Terms have been published constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms, subject to applicable law.

29. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid, unlawful, or unenforceable by a competent authority, that provision shall be interpreted or modified to the extent necessary to make it lawful and enforceable where possible.

The remaining provisions shall continue to apply to the extent permitted by law.

30. No Waiver

Failure by NRCRI to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of its right to enforce that provision or any other provision at a later time.

31. Entire Understanding

These Terms, together with the Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and any additional terms expressly applicable to specific services or programmes, constitute the principal terms governing your general use of the website.

Additional terms may apply to particular services, applications, programmes, events, research resources, or institutional activities.

32. Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Any dispute relating to the use of the website or interpretation of these Terms shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the appropriate courts or competent authorities in Nigeria, subject to applicable law and any relevant statutory or governmental requirements.

33. Contact Us

If you have questions concerning these Terms, website content, permitted use of NRCRI materials, or any other matter relating to the website, you may contact the Institute through its official communication channels.

National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike
Km 8 Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road
Umuahia, Abia State
Nigeria

Email: info@nrcri.gov.ng
Telephone: 0816 387 9811

For matters concerning personal information or data-protection rights, please refer to the Institute’s Privacy Policy and use the appropriate privacy contact channel.