First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has disclosed that her 65th birthday fundraiser for the completion of the long-delayed National Library project has so far generated ₦20.7 billion.
Speaking during a luncheon with journalists at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday, Tinubu said the fund, tagged Oluremi@65 Education Fund, will remain open until December 2025 to allow more Nigerians contribute.
She stressed that the initiative was not politically motivated but inspired by her personal experiences as a teacher and the impact libraries had on her early life.
“This is not just a project but a national treasure that will serve generations to come,” she said. “I have played my part, and I believe Nigerians can raise the funds needed to complete the library.”
The First Lady recalled her past efforts at mobilizing resources for social causes, including raising ₦50 million for the National Sickle Cell Foundation at her 45th birthday and ₦200 million for the New Era Foundation and other charities at her 50th.
Tinubu also drew from her previous humanitarian gesture in Liberia, where she donated a school during the post-war rebuilding process, insisting that her efforts for Nigeria should not be viewed through a political lens.
As of 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23, she confirmed that the fund had already realized ₦20.4 billion, with contributions from a wide range of stakeholders, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife, former President Muhammadu Buhari, past First Ladies, members of the National Assembly, governors, security chiefs, and prominent business moguls such as Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Arthur Eze, Tony Elumelu, and Jim Ovia.
Tinubu emphasized that the account is jointly managed by the Minister of Education and the Chief Librarian of the Federation, while her role is to help drive the fundraising campaign.
The National Library project, first initiated in 1981, has faced decades of delays and escalating costs—from ₦8.2 billion at inception to ₦23 billion as of 2023. She expressed optimism that, with renewed commitment from the current administration, the library would finally be completed within the next two years.