Akwa Ibom – August 11, 2025 – The Akwa Ibom State Government has issued a formal clarification over the renewed circulation of a video claiming to showcase a locally developed “AI phone” allegedly created by a young lady in the state. The Ministry of Science and Digital Economy, Akwa Ibom State, described the video as misleading and confirmed that the product does not exist.
In a statement signed by Dr. Frank Ekpenyong, Honourable Commissioner for Science and Digital Economy, the Government said it appreciates members of the public who sought to verify the authenticity of the claims.
“Following careful review, we wish to state categorically that the video is misleading, and the product it depicts does not exist,” the statement read.
The same video first went viral in 2023 during the Akwa Ibom Tech Week, attracting national and international attention. At the time, Governor Umo Eno directed the then Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on ICT and Digital Services, now Honourable Commissioner for Science and Digital Economy, to investigate the product.
The 2023 investigation found that the so-called AI phone was never a functional device. The young lady, filmed in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area, was only presenting an idea for an AI-powered phone.
Special effects such as holographic projections, robotic voice responses, and futuristic visuals were digitally added to demonstrate the concept. The video producers did not include a disclaimer indicating it was fictional, which led to public misunderstanding.
With the video resurfacing and generating new narratives, the Government confirmed the outcome remains unchanged: there is no such product, the visuals were illustrative, and no operational device has ever existed.
The Ministry urged the public to verify information from credible sources before sharing to prevent the spread of false or misleading content. “We strongly urge citizens and the public to verify information from credible sources before sharing, to prevent the spread of false or misleading content,” the statement said.
The Akwa Ibom State Government reiterated its commitment to supporting innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship among youths as outlined in the ARISE Agenda.
The administration said it continues to invest in initiatives that empower young people, expand opportunities, and strengthen the state’s fast-growing digital economy.