January 05, (THEWILL) — The Presidency has dismissed claims that a photograph showing President Bola Tinubu with Rwandan President Paul Kagame in Paris was generated using artificial intelligence, describing such assertions as false and misleading.
The clarification was made on Monday, January 5, 2026, by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, following widespread media reports and social media commentary questioning the authenticity of the image.
The controversy erupted after a “Grok” watermark was spotted on the version of the photo shared on official social media handles.
According to the Presidency, the photograph is genuine and was taken during an official engagement between Presidents Tinubu and Kagame in Paris on Sunday, January 4.
Ajayi explained that the two African leaders met for a private lunch to discuss global and continental affairs before joining French President Emmanuel Macron for dinner later that evening.
Ajayi clarified that the original photograph was captured with a mobile phone, resulting in poor initial quality.
To improve the image for public viewing, digital tools provided by Grok were used to enhance clarity and resolution.
He noted that utilizing AI-driven enhancement tools on a real photo does not make the content “AI-generated” or fake.
“The narrative that the picture of Presidents Bola Tinubu and Paul Kagame taken in Paris yesterday was AI-generated is not correct,” Ajayi stated.
“The picture is real. The photographer only used Grok to improve the picture quality. That is not a reason to conclude it was fabricated.”
He faulted reports that characterized the image as a “fake,” noting that journalists and editors should have sought official clarification before drawing conclusions that could mislead the public.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
