Presidency Debunks Claims That Tinubu–Kagame Paris Photograph Was AI-Generated

Presidency Debunks Claims That Tinubu–Kagame Paris Photograph Was AI-Generated

Kingsley Ohens reporting For Urbanscoopnews

Paris, France — The Presidency has dismissed claims circulating in sections of the media and on social media that a recently shared photograph of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria and President Paul Kagame of Rwanda was generated using artificial intelligence, describing the reports as a misrepresentation of facts.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Temitope Ajayi, clarified that the photograph in question is authentic and was taken during an official engagement between the two African leaders in Paris.

According to the statement, President Tinubu and President Kagame met in Paris on Sunday, where they held discussions and had lunch together. Later that same evening, both leaders attended a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.

“The photograph is real and not AI-generated, as has been wrongly claimed,” Ajayi said. “It was taken with a mobile phone, which explains its initial poor quality.”

Ajayi further explained that the image was subsequently enhanced using Grok, an artificial intelligence-powered tool designed to improve image quality, stressing that such enhancement does not amount to fabricating or generating an image.

“Enhancing the quality of an existing photograph is not the same as generating a false image,” the statement noted. “This distinction is critical and should not be ignored in responsible reporting.”

The Presidency expressed concern over what it described as a rush to judgment by some commentators and media outlets, emphasizing the importance of verification before drawing conclusions, particularly on matters involving international diplomacy and the presidency.

“The writer or editor involved should have sought clarification before arriving at an erroneous conclusion,” Ajayi said.

The statement urged journalists and media organizations to uphold professional standards by verifying facts and providing accurate context, especially in an era where digital tools are increasingly used in media production.