The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has announced that the National Library Fund has raised ₦20.4 billion since its launch on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
“So far, we have raised ₦20.4 billion since this fund launched last week, and more contributions are still coming in,” Mrs Tinubu told journalists at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ahead of her 65th birthday on Sunday, September 21, the First Lady unveiled the initiative as part of efforts to complete the long-delayed National Library headquarters in Abuja. Instead of gifts or media tributes, she appealed to the public to donate to the cause.
In a personally signed statement, Mrs Tinubu said she would spend her birthday “dedicated to God for all His blessings” and in quiet reflection.
She encouraged supporters to contribute to the “Oluremi@65 Education Fund,” which is being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education.
“I appeal to those intending to send birthday cards, cakes, flowers, newspaper greetings, or gifts to instead direct those funds to a project close to my heart — the completion of the National Library,” she said.
“This would be the best birthday present I have ever received. My love for education is the driving force behind this initiative.”
The National Library headquarters project was first conceived in 1981 but only began construction in 2006 after it was awarded for ₦8.59 billion, with an expected completion time of less than two years.
However, delays, inflation, and mismanagement have pushed the cost significantly higher. By 2023, only 44% of the 12-storey complex had been completed, with final cost estimates ranging between ₦49.6 billion and ₦120 billion.
The site, located between Abuja’s National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre, has become symbolic of stalled public infrastructure.
In 2025, the Federal Government directed the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to take over financing and resume construction. Education Minister Tunji Alausa confirmed in April that work would restart by June 1 following a site inspection.
The Nigerian Library Association, in a recent statement, reiterated the urgent need to complete the project, emphasizing its critical role in supporting education, research, and cultural preservation.
Mrs Tinubu — a former senator and ex-First Lady of Lagos State — has consistently aligned her advocacy with education, women’s empowerment, and youth development.
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