The Presidency has debunked claims over the authenticity of a photograph showing President Bola Tinubu with his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, following a wave of social media claims suggesting the image was artificially generated.
This was contained in a statement issued on Monday, by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Temitope Ajayi, after the authenticity of the image was questioned by citizens and foreigners alike.
Presidency said the photograph, which surfaced after an official engagement in Paris, was genuine and captured during a real meeting between the two leaders, dismissing suggestions that it was produced using artificial intelligence.
Presidential spokesperson Ajayi said the image was taken on Sunday, January 4, during discussions between Presidents Tinubu and Kagame in Paris. He explained that the two leaders had met earlier in the day for lunch before later joining French President Emmanuel Macron for dinner.
According to him, confusion arose after the photograph appeared online with enhanced visual quality. He clarified that the image was originally taken with a mobile phone, resulting in reduced clarity, and was later digitally improved to make it clearer for public use.
Ajayi stressed that the process used to enhance the photograph did not amount to artificial image generation. He said a digital tool was applied solely to improve sharpness and visibility, rejecting claims that the picture was fabricated.
“The picture is real and not AI-generated as claimed,” he said, adding that improving image quality should not be misconstrued as evidence of manipulation or falsification.
The Presidency criticised media reports and social media commentary that described the image as fake, describing such narratives as misleading and unsupported by facts.
He also urged journalists and members of the public to verify information before sharing claims that could distort public understanding, particularly on matters involving official state engagements.
