First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Raises N20.4bn in One Week for Completion of National Library
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tibubu has announced that she has raised N20.4 billion for the completion of the National Library Headquarters Complex, Abuja.
The N20.4b was raised in within one week.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, the First Lady told journalists that, “So far we have raised N20.4bn since this fund launched last week, and more are still coming.”
The first lady announced the call for donation for the completion of the National Library on September 18, 2025 as part of programmes commemorating her 65th birthday, she turned 65 on Sunday, September 2.
The first lady had in a public address urged well-wishers to donate to the fund instead of sending her gifts or paying for newspaper advertisements to mark the day
According to a statement issued on in respect of the donations, Mrs.Tinubu said she would spend her birthday “dedicated to God for all His blessings in my life and having a quiet birthday,” while appealing for contributions to an account tagged the “Oluremi@65 Education Fund,” coordinated by the Ministry of Education.
“I wish to appeal to those who would like to send a birthday card, cakes, flowers, greetings in the newspapers, or gifts should please send the funds to the designated account for a special project close to my heart… The completion of the National Library.”
“This will be the best birthday present I have ever received. My love for education has informed my decision to dedicate my birthday to this worthy cause.”
The National Library was conceived in 1981 alongside other iconic infrastructure developments including the National Ecumenical Centre, the National Mosque among others, but successive governments had abandoned the projects, even after several billions have been sunk into it.
Despite haven been conceived in the early eighties, it was the President Olusegun Obasanjo administration that eventually commenced construction of the project in 2006. The complex was estimated to be completed in two years at the cost of N8.59 billion.
By 2023 the 12-storey building which currently stands at 44% completion according engineers will require about N120 billion to be completed.
The first lady’s fund raising drive is being coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education under the strict supervision of the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa.
