FUNFRAISING TOWARD completion of the National Library realised N20.7 billion, the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, announced while having lunch with the press at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Senator Tinubu said the birthday account, Oluremi@65 Education Fund, will remain open till December 2025 to receive further donations from willing Nigerians towards completion of the project.
“In his 1925 Essay, ‘The New Frontier’ Gebran Kalil Gebran, a Lebanese Writer, Poet, Philosopher and Artist wrote, I quote ‘Are you a politician, asking what your country can do for you or a zealous one, asking what you can do for your country? If you are the first, then you are a parasite, if the second, then you are an oasis in a desert’,” she said.
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“That is why if we take our baby steps welldoing, before long, things will begin to shape up for our country,” Senator Tinubu added.
“We all have to rise up, play our parts in the building process. A grain of sand and a drop of water make a mighty ocean.”
The First Lady debunked claims that her 65th birthday anniversary fundraiser was politically motivated.
She pointed out that as a teacher, as well as the impact library had on her life while growing up, she was motivated to call for the donations towards the building of the National Library.
“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,” she said.
“This is not the first time I have raised funds for causes close to my heart.
“For my 45th birthday, I raised N50 million to complete the National Sickle Cell Foundation Center (NSCF), which has since become fully operational.
“For my 50th birthday, I raised N200 million for the New Era Foundation and other charities,” Senator Tinubu said.
“I have played my part in this project, and believe Nigerians can raise the funds needed to complete the library. This is not just a project but a national treasure that will serve generations to come,” the First Lady stated.
Senator Tinubu disclosed that as at 2pm on Tuesday 23rd September 2025 the fund had realised N20.4 billion and was still counting, noting that the account will remain open till December 2025 before it is shut down.
She said the sole signatories to the account are the Minister of Education and the Chief Librarian of the Federation, insisting hers was to help drive the funds.
The First Lady also acknowledged various contributors, including President Bola Tinubu, Vic
e President Kashim Shettima and his wife, the late former President General Buhari, several former first ladies, Senate President and his wife, Speaker of the House of Representatives and his wife, and members of the National Assembly, governors forum and governors spouses, security chiefs and their wives, business moguls including Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Arthur Eze, Tony Elumelu, Jim Ovia among countless well-wishers.
The National Assembly Library project was initiated in 1981 and approved with funding in subsequent years, but had faced decades of funding delays.
The budget, the First Lady said, escalated from N8.2 billion in 1981 to N23 billion as of 2023.
She said President Bola Tinubu’s administration is ready to “take the bull by the horn” to ensure that construction is completed within two years.
The First Lady closed by reiterating that the Oluremi@65 Education Fund will remain open until December 2025 to receive donations towards completing the National Library.
