<p dir="ltr">Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Knowledge Preservation- Implications for National Security and Strategic Decision-Making in Nigeria</p>

The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed how nations create, store, and utilise knowledge, with profound implications for national security and strategic decision-making. In Nigeria, weak institutional memory, inadequate knowledge management systems, and fragmented data infrastructures have created significant vulnerabilities in national security operations and policy formulation. This study examines how AI-driven technologies can enhance knowledge preservation and strengthen strategic decision-making frameworks within Nigeria’s security architecture. Guided by the Knowledge Management Theory and Information Warfare Theory, the research adopts a qualitative approach, drawing on content analysis of policy documents, scholarly publications, and institutional reports from the Nigerian Defence Academy, NITDA, and global AI frameworks. Findings reveal that while AI presents immense opportunities for improving intelligence analysis, data preservation, and evidence-based policy formulation, Nigeria faces critical challenges, including poor digital infrastructure, limited AI literacy, and weak policy coordination. The study underscores the urgent need for a National AI and Knowledge Preservation Policy to safeguard institutional memory, promote data sovereignty, and strengthen national resilience against emerging cyber and information threats. It concludes that integrating AI into Nigeria’s strategic systems can serve as a catalyst for sustainable national security, improved governance, and informed decision-making, provided that ethical, infrastructural, and policy frameworks are effectively implemented.