First Lady announces N20.4bn raised for Nigeria’s National Library fund, urging donations instead of gifts for her 65th birthday

Senator Oluremi Tinubu announced on Tuesday that the National Library fund has already raised N20.4 billion since its launch on September 18, 2025.

Also read: SDNON celebrates Nigeria’s first lady Oluremi Tinubu at 65

Speaking to journalists at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, she expressed gratitude and said more contributions are still expected.

The fundraising campaign is part of Mrs. Tinubu’s efforts to support the completion of Nigeria’s long-delayed National Library project.

Just days before turning 65 on Sunday, September 21, the First Lady requested that well-wishers donate to the library fund rather than sending her gifts or newspaper congratulatory ads.

In a statement signed on Thursday, Mrs. Tinubu emphasized her dedication to education and announced the establishment of the “Oluremi@65 Education Fund,” coordinated by the Ministry of Education.

She appealed to Nigerians and supporters to contribute to this special cause, saying, “The completion of the National Library will be the best birthday present I have ever received.”

The National Library headquarters project in Abuja was first proposed in 1981 and construction began in 2006 with an initial budget of N8.59 billion.

Expected to be completed in less than two years, the project has since faced multiple delays and cost overruns.

By 2023, only about 44% of the physical structure was completed, with estimates of N49.6 billion to over N120 billion required to finish the 12-storey complex.

Situated between the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, the library has become a symbol of stalled infrastructure in Nigeria.

Despite pledges from successive governments, progress has remained slow.

In 2025, the Federal Government handed over funding responsibility to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), with a directive to resume construction.

Education Minister Tunji Alausa confirmed that work was set to restart by June 1, following site assessments.

The Nigerian Library Association has also urged the urgent completion of the facility, highlighting its importance to education, research, and cultural preservation.

Also read: Oluremi Tinubu celebrated at 65 for selfless leadership

Mrs. Tinubu, a former senator and Lagos State First Lady, has a longstanding commitment to education, women’s empowerment, and youth development, making this campaign a personal and national priority.

Source: Read more at gazettengr.com