By Adesina Wahab

Nigerian scholar, Prof Elvis Efe Otobo, has successfully passed the 2026 Academy of Certified Archivists (ACA) Examination, earning the internationally recognised credential.

The ACA certification is widely regarded as the premier professional qualification for archivists, records managers, and information governance practitioners, and is administered by the Academy of Certified Archivists in the United States.

The ACA Examination is a rigorous, competency based assessment covering archival theory, preservation, appraisal, ethics, records administration, and information governance standards. Successful completion signifies mastery of globally accepted professional principles and practices in the archival field.

Prof Otobo, who serves as Director of the Archives and Records Association (ARA) UK & Ireland, described the achievement as a defining moment in his professional journey. “The ACA examination is the highest international examination in my career. It was challenging, but I am grateful to have achieved success,” he said.

ACA qualified professionals remain numerically rare in the United Kingdom and across Europe, as the credential is primarily pursued and awarded in North America.

Prof Otobo’s certification therefore strengthens the UK’s professional capacity in archival leadership and enhances the strategic expertise available to organisations across higher education, public administration, private sector governance, and heritage institutions.

His achievement reinforces ongoing efforts to elevate professional standards, promote international best practice, and expand the global profile of the UK archival and records management community.