First Lady Oluremi Tinubu says the National Library Fund has raised about N20.4 billion since its launch on September 18, ahead of her 65th birthday.
Ahead of her birthday on September 21, Mrs Tinubu unveiled a fundraising initiative aimed at completing the country’s long-abandoned National Library headquarters in Abuja.
“So far we have raised N20.4 billion since this fund launched last week, and more are still coming,” she said.
Speaking to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa, she clarified that the initiative is not a pet project but a national effort led by the Federal Ministry of Education under the “Oluremi at 65 Education Fund.”
Mrs Tinubu noted that the birthday account, Oluremi@65 Education Fund, will remain open till December to receive more donations from willing Nigerians towards the completion of the project.
She explained that signatories to the account are the Minister of Education and the Chief Librarian of the Federation for transparency and accountability.
Mrs Tinubu thanked Nigerians whom she had urged to donate to the fund instead of sending her birthday gifts or placing congratulatory newspaper adverts.
“This is not the first time I have raised funds for causes close to my heart,” said the First Lady. ”For my 45th birthday, I raised ₦50 million to complete the National Sickle Cell Foundation Center, which has since become fully operational.”
“For my 50th birthday, I raised ₦200 million for the New Era Foundation and other charities.”
She dismissed speculations about political motives, stressing that her focus remains on giving back, supporting the vulnerable, and building a stronger nation.
“What is wrong in doing well or trying to build our country—if I could assist the post-war building process in Liberia by donating the Oluremi Tinubu Elementary and Junior Secondary School in Monte Serrado County in Liberia, what is wrong in drawing attention to some of the areas of need in our beloved nation?”
The National Library project was first proposed in 1981, and construction began in 2006 after a contract worth N8.59 billion was awarded, with a two-year completion target.
By 2023, only 44 per cent of the work had been done. Cost estimates for completion now range between N49.6 billion and N120 billion.
Successive administrations have pledged completion. In 2025, the federal government mandated TETFund to resume funding and restart the project’s construction.
Minister of Education Tunji Alausa confirmed in April that construction would resume on June 1, following detailed site assessments.
(NAN)