Oluremi Tinubu raises ₦20.7bn for National Library, says project driven by love, not politics

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has disclosed that her 65th birthday fundraiser for the completion of the long-stalled National Library project has so far generated ₦20.7 billion, describing it as a labour of love rather than a politically motivated initiative.

Speaking during a media lunch at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Senator Tinubu said the Oluremi@65 Education Fund would remain open until December 2025 to accommodate further contributions from individuals and organisations willing to support the national cause.

Quoting Lebanese writer and philosopher Gebran Khalil Gebran, she urged Nigerians to embrace selfless nation-building.

“We all have to rise up and play our parts in the building process. A grain of sand and a drop of water makes a mighty ocean,” she said.

The First Lady stressed that her call for support was inspired by her background as a teacher and the transformative impact of libraries in her youth.

She recalled previous philanthropic milestones, including raising ₦50 million for the National Sickle Cell Foundation Centre at her 45th birthday, and ₦200 million for the New Era Foundation and other charities at 50.

“I have played my part in this project, and I believe Nigerians can raise the funds needed to complete the National Library. This is not just a building, but a national treasure that will serve generations to come,” she said.

She emphasised transparency, noting that the signatories to the account are the Minister of Education and the Chief Librarian of the Federation.

The National Library project, first approved in 1981, has suffered decades of delay, with costs ballooning from ₦8.2 billion to ₦23 billion as of 2023.

According to Senator Tinubu, President Bola Tinubu’s administration is determined to break the cycle of abandonment and complete the project within two years.

The First Lady also expressed gratitude to prominent donors, including President Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, former President Muhammadu Buhari, members of the National Assembly, state governors and their spouses, and leading business moguls such as Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Arthur Eze, Tony Elumelu, and Jim Ovia.

“This is not politics. This is a love project,” she declared.