Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, has announced that over N20 billion has been raised for the completion of the National Library in Abuja.
The announcement was made in honor of her 65th birthday, for which she had appealed to well-wishers to donate to the project instead of sending her traditional gifts.
The fund, officially titled the “Oluremi at 65 Education Fund,” was launched in coordination with the Ministry of Education. The First Lady has stated that the donations, which have surpassed N20 billion, will continue to be accepted until December 2025.
She said as a young person growing up, library played a great role in shaping her person and she was not happy that the National Library which was initiated during the Shehu Shagari administration was still uncompleted up till today.
Speaking on the background of the criticism trailing her efforts, the First Lady said Nigerians should emulate the words of the former American President who said citizens should not think of what the country can do for them, but what they can do for your country.
She also clarified that the fundraising initiative is not politically motivated and is driven by her passion for education.
The National Library project has been stalled for years due to a lack of funding, and its completion has been a subject of public concern.
The First Lady’s initiative is seen as a major step toward revitalizing the long-abandoned infrastructure project.
