Abuja — Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has announced that more than N20 billion has been raised toward the long-awaited completion of the National Library project in Abuja.
Speaking to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, Mrs. Tinubu explained that the fundraising drive was tied to her 65th birthday celebration on September 21, 2025. Instead of hosting a lavish event, she launched the “Oluremi at 65 Education Fund,” an initiative coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education, and appealed to well-wishers to channel birthday greetings and gifts into donations for the project.
“The completion of the National Library will be a great birthday gift for me,” she said, noting that her decision to dedicate the milestone to God and to education reflects her passion for nurturing young Nigerians.
The First Lady recalled her tenure as a senator, during which she served on the Senate Committee on Education, and lamented that successive governments had failed to complete the library, a project first conceived during the Shehu Shagari administration.
Highlighting the personal importance of libraries, Mrs. Tinubu said they played a crucial role in shaping her formative years and continue to be essential in providing young people with access to knowledge and opportunities.
Responding to critics who questioned her fundraising initiative, she urged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of service, citing the famous words of a former American president: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.”
According to her, the N20 billion already raised is just the beginning, with more contributions still expected. She expressed optimism that the completion of the National Library would stand as a collective achievement by Nigerians and a legacy project for education in the country.
