FIRST OF ALL - INTRODUCTION

On Sunday, we gave you some "Chin-Chin"—a quick appetizer to tell you that Google had launched something new called Nano Banana Pro (powered by the Gemini 3 engine). We promised you that once we had time to really press the buttons and stress-test the engine, we would bring you the main course.

Well, the food is ready.

To call Nano Banana Pro just "another image generator" is like calling the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos "just a road." While technically true, it misses the magnitude of what is happening. Until now, AI tools like Midjourney or Stable Diffusion could be likened to talented artists who were also a bit drunk. Yes, they are creative, but they don’t always listen to instructions. You can ask for a "market woman holding a POS machine," and they will give you a woman with seven fingers holding a calculator that is melting.

Nano Banana Pro is different. It is the first AI designer that thinks, drawing on Google’s Thinking process, before it draws. It builds a plan, which partly eliminates the risk of hallucination. It understands physics, it understands consistency, and for the first time, it understands that when we say "Lagos traffic," we don't just mean "many cars.” We mean real Lagos chaos: screaming conductors, tired passengers, impatient drivers, etc.

Let’s dig in.

KINI ANFAANI? WHAT DOES IT DO?

Let’s leave all the big English (technical jargon) in Silicon Valley. Let’s talk about what this tool can actually do for you when you are sitting in front of your laptop at 2 AM trying to beat a deadline.

1. It can "Reason" Through a Scene: This is the biggest flex. It understands cause and effect. If you ask for a rainy season scene, it knows the ground must be wet, reflections must be visible in puddles, and people should be huddled under shelter. Imagine asking for "A busy Danfo bus stop."

• Other AI(s): Might put the yellow stripe on the wrong side of the bus or make the bus look like a London double-decker painted yellow.

• Nano Banana Pro: Reasons. It gets the boxy shape right. It understands the crowd density. It knows the conductor hangs out the door. It simulates the vibe.

2. Text Rendering (It Can Finally Spell): For years, AI has given us "gibberish text" that looks like alien hieroglyphics. Nano Banana Pro has cracked the code. It can render legible, correctly spelt text on signs, shirts, and billboards within the image.

   For example, let’s say we want to visualize a marketing campaign for us, Kini AI, before spending millions on real ad space. We want to see how our brand looks on a massive billboard at the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge roundabout.

   Previously, we’d have to generate the image, then open Photoshop to manually type the text and try to match the perspective. Now, we simply have to ask Nano Banana. It renders “Learn AI in Simple Terms with Kini AI” perfectly on the billboard, with the correct font weight and shadow.

3. It can "Lock" Faces (Character Consistency): This is the holy grail for African storytellers and comic creators. You can generate a character, give them a name (let’s say "Korede"), and then put Korede in ten different situations without his face changing.

   • Example You are pitching a storyboard. You need Sola to be eating Amala in Panel 1, running for a bus in Panel 2, and delivering a speech in a boardroom in Panel 3. Nano Banana Pro ensures Oluwakorede has the same tribal marks, the same nose shape, and the same haircut in all three images. It is no longer "Random Black Man #1" and "Random Black Man #2." It is Oluwakorede.

4. Grounded in Reality: Because it is connected to Google, it knows what real places look like. If you ask for "The National Theatre, Lagos," it pulls from real data. It doesn't invent a random building. This is crucial for architects and news reporters who need geographical accuracy.

5. The "12-in-1" Super-Composite: This one be like magic! It’s a huge feature that no other image generator AI has right now. Other AIs struggle if you give them two photos to combine. Nano Banana Pro allows you to upload up to 12 reference images and blend them into one coherent shot. In the example below, we uploaded a picture of Oluwakorede and some accessories, asking the AI to make him wear (or hold) them.

WHO YOU EPP? WHO’S IT FOR?

This is not just for you to read. You have to try it too. So, how might you?

1. The "I-Just-Dey-Start" UI Designer: You are mocking up a website for a Nigerian Real Estate client. You need photos of "Modern Duplexes in Lekki," but stock photos are expensive, and free ones look like houses in California. You use Nano Banana Pro to generate specific, localized assets. "Modern white duplex, Lekki style, sunny afternoon, black gate, interlocked floor." You get a placeholder that looks real enough to sell the design.

2. The Business Owner: You sell Ankara tote bags on Instagram. You have the product, but you can't afford a model and a photographer every week. You can take a photo of your bag, upload it to Nano Banana Pro and prompt: "A stylish African lady walking down a street in Victoria Island, wearing this bag on her shoulder."

3. The Event Planner (The Owambe Specialist): A bride wants an "Enchanted Garden" theme, but can't visualize it. She is stressed. You prompt: "Wedding reception layout in a large marquee, purple and gold theme, hanging wisteria flowers from the ceiling, golden chivalry chairs, Nigerian wedding vibe." You show her the picture on your phone. She screams in excitement. You get the deposit. Chikena (finish!)

4. The Fashion Designer: You have an idea for a new Agbada style, but you can't draw well enough to show the tailor. You prompt: "Modern Agbada design, emerald green Aso-Oke, complex embroidery on the chest, worn by a tall man, fashion illustration style." The tailor sees exactly where the embroidery should go. No more "I thought you said..." arguments.

To cut the short story shorter, as long as you have a job, Nano Banana Pro has something for you!

How Do You Enter? (Access & Pricing)

Oya o, I’m Ready! How do I start?

• The App: To access and use the Nano Banana Pro model, open the Gemini App on your phone or browser. Go to "Create Images" and ensure the toggle is set to "Gemini 3 (Thinking)".

• Google AI Studio: You can also use the model in Google AI Studio, this is especially for developers.

• Google Workspace: Certain Google tools, like Docs and Slides, allow you to generate images within them. But this only works if you’re on the PRO version of Google’s Gemini model.

The Price Tag:

• Free Tier: Google gives you a "Daily Allowance" of about 20-50 generated images (depending on complexity) for free. After that, it slows down or kicks you to the older, dumber model.

• Google AI Premium: For about $20/month (approx. ₦30,000 - ₦35,000 depending on exchange rate), you get unlimited high-speed generations, access to the advanced "Thinking" mode, and integration into Google Docs/Slides.

• For Developers (API): If you are building an app, pricing is per image. A standard HD image costs roughly $0.04 (approx ₦60), while a complex "Thinking" image can cost up to $0.14.

PROs and CONs

Why You Should Consider Using Nano Banana Pro

• The "Thinking" Engine: It follows instructions better than any other tool. If you say "remove the background people," it actually does it.

• Local Context King: Because it is connected to Google Search, it knows what the National Theatre looks like. It knows what Jollof Rice looks like.

• Text & Typography: Being able to put real dates, prices, and slogans in images is a massive productivity booster.

• Google Ecosystem: It plays nicely with Google Slides and Docs. You can generate images directly inside your presentation deck.

• Safety First: It has SynthID (invisible watermarking). If someone steals your AI image, you can prove it was generated by you/Google.

WAIT, Just Before You Jump In… (Shine Ya Eyes)

• The Speed Limit: Because it "thinks," it is relatively slower. A complex render can take 30-60 seconds.

• Strict "Mummy" Filters: Google is very careful, as per usual. Nano Banana Pro will refuse to generate anything it considers "unsafe" or "copyrighted." Sometimes it is oversensitive and blocks innocent prompts (like "shooting a movie scene").

• The "Plastic" Look: Sometimes the images are too perfect. Skin looks like porcelain. You often need to add words like "film grain" or "raw photo" to the prompt to make it look human.

• Cost: The heavy reasoning burns data and credits (especially for API users). It is not light on your wallet if you are a heavy user.

KOKO OF THE MATTER (BOTTOM LINE)

For a long time, we treated AI like a magic trick. "Wow, look, it made a picture!" Nano Banana Pro is more than that. It is a productivity engine.

If you are a designer, do not fear that this will take your job. Fear the designer who uses this to do 3 days of work in 3 hours. This tool removes the grunt work: the tedious sketching, the endless searching for stock photos that don't exist.

It frees you up to do the real work: The Creative Direction.

Stop fighting the current. The river flows one way. Grab a paddle (or a Nano Banana) and start rowing.

Till next time, stay curious. Stay ahead.