The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has cautioned Nigerians about a fake, AI-generated video circulating online that falsely uses her image.
In a statement shared on X, the former Nigerian finance minister made it clear that the video is not authentic. She added that the issue has been reported to the appropriate authorities for investigation and necessary action.
Okonjo-Iweala also reiterated that she does not maintain accounts on Instagram, Facebook, or WhatsApp. According to her, any content bearing her name or image on those platforms should be treated as fraudulent.
“Just alerting Nigerians. Another fake AI-manipulated video. The authorities are handling it. I just wanted to alert you to be aware of this,” she wrote. “As I repeatedly said, I never post anything on Instagram, Facebook or WhatsApp. Anything emanating from these sources with my image is not from me. I only post on Twitter/X. I just don’t want people to be duped.”
Her warning comes amid rising concerns over the use of artificial intelligence to create deepfake videos and impersonation scams targeting prominent individuals and unsuspecting members of the public.
Authorities are yet to provide further details on the source of the manipulated video. However, Okonjo-Iweala’s clarification underscores the growing need for vigilance in the face of digital misinformation.
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