Nigeria President Gets Queries for AI-Generated 'Lunch With Rwanda's President in Paris' Post
Thompson Nsisongabasi
Jan 06, 2026
President Bola Tinubu has attracted public queries from Nigerians after posting an AI-generated image by Grok depicting him having lunch with Rwanda's President Paul Kagame on Sunday.
READ ALSO: 2022 RECRUITMENT: Customs Shortlist Successful Candidates | SEE FULL LIST
The State House had announced on December 28 that Tinubu was travelling to Europe to continue his year-end holiday ahead of his participation at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
READ ALSO: Nigerian star Osimhen spotted smiling in Turkey after heartbreak against Zimbabwe
Tinubu posted the image on X with a Grok watermark in the right-hand corner of the image. Grok is an AI fact-checking and content generation tool owned by X.
Tagging Kagame's handle, Tinubu wrote on X, "This afternoon, I had a private lunch with H. E. President Paul Kagame of Rwanda to discuss the current state of world affairs and advancing Africa in an ever-changing global landscape.ÔÇØ
The red arrow points to the watermark. Image obtained from X.
His aides equally shared the same image on their X handles with different captions.
READ ALSO: What is climate change? A really simple guide
Many Nigerians had spotted the AI sign and questioned why the presidency resorted to an AI-created image for the presidential engagement.
READ ALSO: UMUAHIA NORTH 2023: Obed Asiegbu Finally Reveals Why He Left PDP | WATCH VIDEO
"President Bola Tinubu at a private lunch in Paris with the President of the Republic of Rwanda, Paul Kagame,ÔÇØ Segun Dada, Tinubu's Special Assistant on Social Media, wrote.
NIGERIANS DOUBT THE MEETING TOOK PLACE
The involvement of Grok in generating the image casts doubts in the minds of many that the meeting actually took place.
READ ALSO: From Kankara boys to Kangara abduction: A slap on the face of Nigeria | READ DETAILS
"Why are you posting fake images?ÔÇØ Ola asked Dada.
READ ALSO: UNBELlEVABLE! See what Governor Udom want to turn Akwa Ibom State into before 2023 [PHOTOS]
Similarly, Ataga commented that Tinubu's media aide generated AI pictures of his boss in "a meeting that never happenedÔÇØ.
READ ALSO: Updated: Insecurity and What Buhari Should Do
Nwokem, another citizen who commented, said, "They used AI to generate a fake picture. Fraudulent people. You should have cropped out the Grok logo. Ndi oshi.ÔÇØ
READ ALSO: GUNMEN ATTACK: NRC Reacts To Edo Train Station Shutdown
For Ebenezer, they doubted the competence of the president's media team, asking, "How do you employ such a daft and incompetent media team that they couldn't notice and crop off the Grok watermark?ÔÇØ
READ ALSO: Understanding DG's alert mantra in NYSC
The presidency is yet to confirm if the image was altered, edited or fabricated by Grok.
READ ALSO: Why Your Relationship Is Yet To Lead To The Altar- Pastor Reveals Secrets | DETAILS
The AI-generated image remained on the president's and aides' handles at press time.
READ ALSO: See How to Do Storytelling With Your Images: 8 Useful Tips
But there was nothing about the meeting on the East African country's president's timeline when FIJ checked at press time. Kagame's most recent post on X was on December 27.
'GROK USED TO EDIT IT'
Temitope Ajayi, an aide to the president on media and publicity, admitted the role of Grok in the image, saying the AI tool was only used "used grok to improve the picture qualityÔÇØ.
READ ALSO: 2022 RECRUITMENT: Customs Shortlist Successful Candidates | SEE FULL LIST
The clarification was compelled by media reports and social media backlash spotlighting the issue.
READ ALSO: Nigerian star Osimhen spotted smiling in Turkey after heartbreak against Zimbabwe
"The media report and social media comments that followed are misrepresentation of facts. The picture is real and not AI generated as claimed,ÔÇØ Ajayi wrote.
"The two leaders later had dinner with President Macron same yesterday evening. The picture was taken with a phone and obviously had poor quality.
READ ALSO: What is climate change? A really simple guide
"The photographer only later used grok to improve the picture quality. That is not a reason to conclude it was AI generated.ÔÇØ
Related Stories
Updated: Insecurity and What Buhari Should Do
What is climate change? A really simple guide
See How to Do Storytelling With Your Images: 8 Useful Tips
Understanding DG's alert mantra in NYSC
From Kankara boys to Kangara abduction: A slap on the face of Nigeria | READ DETAILS
UNBELlEVABLE! See what Governor Udom want to turn Akwa Ibom State into before 2023 [PHOTOS]
""
— Thompson Nsisongabasi