Nigerian Afropop star Adekunle Gold, popularly known as AG Baby, has called out a prominent financial institution for allegedly hijacking his viral “first-class giveaway” campaign for a promotional ad and he’s not taking it lightly.
The singer, who recently launched an initiative to reward Nigerians with first-class university degrees, gave out cash prizes as a gesture of recognition for their academic excellence. The move earned him praise across social media as many celebrated the thoughtful gesture that placed value on education.
However, what began as a feel-good moment quickly took a legal turn when a well-known bank, Wema Bank, via its digital banking arm ALAT seemingly jumped on the trend without seeking AG Baby’s consent.
The bank’s marketing message read:
“AG Baby no send you first class gift? No worries, ALAT’s got you covered. Enjoy up to 70% off your favorite brands this weekend via eVouchers on the ALAT app – it’s no crime to not have a first-class degree.”
While clearly intended to be humorous and promotional, the ad struck a nerve with the singer. Taking to social media, Adekunle Gold didn’t mince words. He publicly questioned the bank’s action and issued a warning that legal steps might follow.
In his post, the singer wrote:
“Dear @wemabank @alat_ng, when did this start? You’ll be hearing from my people.”
The subtle but firm clapback has sparked a conversation online about intellectual property, brand ethics, and the increasing habit of corporations using celebrity content and viral trends without credit or permission.
Fans and followers have since rallied around Adekunle Gold, supporting his right to protect his creative idea and slamming the bank for what many see as corporate opportunism.
As of now, Wema Bank and ALAT have yet to respond publicly to the singer’s claim, but with Adekunle Gold promising legal action, this might not be the end of the conversation.
In an era where social media virality and brand campaigns often overlap, who owns a trend is becoming an increasingly important question and AG Baby just reminded everyone that not everything online is free to use.
