Ontological Foundations of Records Management Science in the Digital Age: Implications for Nigerian Archival Practice

This study examines the ontological foundations of records management science in the digital age and derives their implications for archival practice and professional identity in Nigeria. The transition from physical to digital records has raised fundamental philosophical questions about the nature of records, the definition of authenticity, and the epistemological basis of archival evidence, questions that Nigerian archival scholarship has not yet fully engaged with. The research employs a philosophical and theoretical inquiry methodology, systematically reviewing foundational and recent literature in records science ontology (2000 to 2024), including the works of Upward, McKemmish, Duranti, and Yeo, alongside a qualitative study of twenty-five Nigerian archivists and records scholars through phenomenological interviews. The study critically evaluates how the Records Continuum Model and the Life Cycle Model fare as ontological frameworks in the context of Nigerian digital records environments characterised by hybrid systems, power asymmetries, and evolving legal definitions of electronic evidence. An original ontological proposition, termed the Contextual Records Integrity Model, is developed and validated through expert symposium. This study represents a foundational philosophical contribution to Nigerian archival science and provides a theoretical basis for evidence law reform. Recommendations target the National Archives Commission, the Evidence Act Reform Committee, and archival education programmes in Nigerian universities. Keywords: ontology, records management, digital archives, Nigeria, archival science