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Background: Before the incursion of the British administrators in Nigeria, historical knowledge was narrated in the form of stories, genealogies and lineage recitations. In the 19^th and 20^th centuries, Nigerian history was written, archived and classified by the Europeans with diverse tools which include archival documents, maps and official bulletins. This Eurocentric method of historiography was mostly biased as it downplayed traditional beliefs and indigenous institutions. This no doubt contributed to loss of identity and a sense of disconnection from Nigerian pre-colonial heritage. Nevertheless, after independence, Nigerian historians decolonized Nigerian history by replacing Eurocentric perspectives with African-centric interpretations which reflected indigenous narratives and values. In the 21^st century, the struggle to represent and reinterpret Nigerian history continues with the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools as historical scholarship transits to the digital age. Hence, AI has become a significant tool for rethinking how historical knowledge is collected, analyzed, interpreted and transmitted in contemporary Nigeria.

Aim: By situating AI within the context of digital historiography, this study examines the benefits and challenges of using AI to rethink historical knowledge in the contemporary Nigeria.   

Methodology: This study relies on historical, conceputual and interdisciplinary literature obtained from related books, journals and electronic databases.

Results: The study revealed that AI as a method of digital historiography in contemporary Nigeria offer significant opportunities which include the preservation and democratization of historical knowledge and the virtual reconstruction of Nigerian cultural heritage sites. The study also revealed that the adoption of AI in contemporary Nigeria is marked by several challenges which include digital divide and marginalization of indigenous languages.

Conclusion: This study concludes that the adoption of AI is viewed as a form of innovation and not a replacement of the Nigerian traditional historiography.