The MLSCN Accreditation Service (MLSCN-AS) is delighted to announce that it has been formally admitted into the Global Accreditation Cooperation Incorporated (Global ACI) as an Associate Member. The admission was confirmed in a letter dated 22 April 2026 addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of MLSCN-AS, Dr. Donald Ibe Ofili, following the successful completion of the membership ballot on 16 April 2026.

Global ACI, registered in New Zealand as an Incorporated Society and headquartered in Auckland, represents a landmark restructuring of the international accreditation landscape. The new organisation unifies the functions and expertise of the two long-standing global bodies, the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC). By bringing both mandates under a single roof, Global ACI strengthens global cooperation, supports greater consistency in accreditation practices, and provides a single, authoritative voice for promoting accreditation worldwide.

Crucially, Global ACI has assumed all of the roles and responsibilities previously held by IAF and ILAC, including the maintenance of the Multilateral Recognition Arrangement (MRA). The MRA is the framework through which accreditation bodies recognise one another’s competence, enabling test results and certificates issued under accredited schemes to be accepted across borders. For MLSCN-AS and the laboratories it accredits, continued participation in this arrangement is central to ensuring that reports issued by Nigerian medical laboratories carry international credibility and are recognised globally.

The transition follows the dissolution process of IAF and ILAC, which commenced in October 2025. Both organisations will cease to exist upon completion of that process, with Global ACI replacing them as the single international accreditation organisation maintaining the same accreditation principles and objectives. In line with this transition, IAF and ILAC stopped charging membership fees with effect from 1 January 2026, while Global ACI began charging membership fees from the same date.

In its letter of admission, signed by the Chair of Global ACI, Mr. Brahim Houla, the organisation welcomed MLSCN-AS into the cooperation and noted that the participation of member bodies will be vital to shaping Global ACI’s direction, governance and operations. As a member, MLSCN-AS is bound by the Global ACI Constitution, the General Rules and the Member Code of Conduct, which together set out the standards and obligations expected of all members of the cooperation.

This achievement is a significant milestone for accreditation in Nigeria. It affirms the standing of MLSCN-AS within the global accreditation community and reflects the consistent effort invested in building a credible, impartial and internationally aligned accreditation body. Membership of Global ACI positions MLSCN-AS to continue offering accreditation services that meet globally accepted benchmarks, thereby supporting the competitiveness of Nigerian medical laboratories and reinforcing public confidence in the quality and reliability of laboratory results.

MLSCN-AS extends its appreciation to all stakeholders, partners and staff whose dedication contributed to this accomplishment. The Service looks forward to working closely with Global ACI and fellow member bodies in advancing the shared objectives of the cooperation, and remains committed to upholding the highest standards of accreditation in the interest of healthcare delivery in Nigeria and beyond.

The Letter of Admission