Pat Stevens/
Nigeria’s presidency has rejected claims that a photograph showing President Bola Tinubu and Rwandan President Paul Kagame at a private lunch in Paris was generated using artificial intelligence, insisting the image is authentic and was merely enhanced for clarity.
The controversy erupted on Sunday after President Tinubu shared the photo on social media, describing discussions with Kagame on global affairs and Africa’s strategic role.
Critics quickly questioned the image’s authenticity, pointing to an xAI Grok watermark visible on the photograph as evidence it had been artificially generated.
A summary circulating on X suggested the image was AI made, fuelling mockery and reviving longstanding scepticism around the President’s public appearances.
The post claimed uncertainty over the meeting and noted that neither Rwanda nor France had officially confirmed the engagement.
However, presidential aides moved swiftly to counter the narrative.
In a “Stop Press” response on X, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, described the AI claims as false and misleading.
“The narrative that the picture of Presidents Bola Tinubu and Paul Kagame taken in Paris yesterday was AI generated is not correct,” Onanuga said. “The picture is real and not AI generated as claimed.”
He confirmed that both leaders met and had lunch together in Paris on Sunday.
Further clarification came from Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, who provided additional details on how the controversy arose.
According to Ajayi, the photograph was taken with a mobile phone and initially appeared grainy due to poor lighting and image quality. He said the photographer later used Grok, an AI powered tool, solely to enhance the picture’s sharpness.
“The photographer only later used Grok to improve the picture quality. That is not a reason to conclude it was AI generated,” Ajayi stated.
He criticised media organisations and commentators for drawing conclusions without seeking clarification, describing the reports as a misrepresentation of facts.
Ajayi also disclosed that President Tinubu and President Kagame later joined French President Emmanuel Macron for dinner on Sunday evening, further confirming the Paris meetings.
The incident highlights growing public confusion around AI assisted image enhancement and fully AI generated content, particularly as tools such as Grok become increasingly common in media production.
It also underscores the sensitivity surrounding visual documentation of political figures in an era of deepfakes and digital manipulation.
Presidency officials urged journalists and editors to verify claims thoroughly before publication, warning that unchecked speculation risks undermining public trust.
0Related posts:
Cashless Nigeria: Why Emefiele May Lose the War – Femi Kusa …Musings on Buhari, Tinubu, Peter Obi, CBN
Interrogating Two Years of Nigeria’s Foreign Policy Under President Tinubu
Obasanjo Lauds Kagame’s Resounding Re-election Victory in Rwanda
Zaria Ambassadors Return: Biodun Ladipo, Wale Ajayi Bounce Back in Boundless Space
Fiscal Index: Rivers, Lagos, Ogun, Kano Lead Ranking, Osun Worst
How Tinubu, Akande Stopped Ajayi’s Plot against Akeredolu