The Nigerian Presidency has rejected claims that a photograph of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris was artificially generated by AI, clarifying that the image is genuine and was only digitally enhanced to improve its quality.
Temitope Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, described online posts suggesting the photo was AI‑generated as “false” and a “misrepresentation of facts.” He confirmed that both leaders met in Paris on Sunday, shared lunch, and later attended dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron.
Ajayi explained that the picture was originally taken with a mobile phone, which resulted in poor quality. To make the image suitable for publication, the photographer used Grok, an AI‑powered tool, only to enhance its clarity, not to create or fabricate it. The presence of a Grok watermark on the photo led many on social media to wrongly conclude it was AI‑generated.
“The picture is real and not AI‑generated as claimed,” Ajayi said, adding that people should verify information before spreading misleading claims. He also criticised journalists and commentators for drawing conclusions without checking facts.
The photo was widely shared on President Tinubu’s official social media, where he described the meeting with Kagame as a discussion on world affairs and advancing Africa’s interests. The incident has sparked broader conversations in Nigeria about the use of AI tools in official communication and the importance of transparency.
