Singer Timi Dakolo has urged people who aspire to fame to prepare for relentless public scrutiny, after a photo of him carrying a young girl triggered speculation about her identity.

The incident occurred after Dakolo was photographed with the child at an event. The image later circulated on social media, where some users claimed she was his “love child”.

Dakolo took to social media to explain what happened, saying the child had refused to return to her mother, prompting him to carry her and look after her for the rest of the event.

He expressed disbelief that the innocent interaction had been transformed into a claim about his personal life.

Dakolo said the episode was a reminder of how quickly unverified stories can emerge around public figures.

The singer then advised those who want to become famous to develop the emotional resilience needed to deal with such situations.

He said fame can mean waking up to stories about oneself that have little connection to reality, simply because of the heightened attention attached to being a public figure.

According to Dakolo, celebrities are often exposed to intense scrutiny and can easily become the focus of online speculation.

His comments highlight a familiar challenge for public figures, particularly in the age of social media, where photographs and short clips can quickly circulate without their original context.

Dakolo, who has been a prominent figure in the Nigerian music industry for more than a decade, is married and has children.

Rather than allowing the latest speculation to define the incident, the singer used it to caution aspiring celebrities about one of the less glamorous aspects of public life: the loss of control over how seemingly ordinary moments can be interpreted online.