First Lady Oluremi Tinubu announced on Tuesday that the National Library fund has already raised N20.4 billion since its launch last Thursday, September 18, 2025.
“In just a few days since the launch, we have raised N20.4 billion, and contributions continue to come in,” she told journalists at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja.
As she approaches her 65th birthday on Sunday, September 21, Mrs. Tinubu revealed plans to channel contributions toward completing Nigeria’s long-delayed National Library project. She encouraged well-wishers to donate to the fund rather than sending gifts or purchasing newspaper advertisements in her honor.
In a statement issued on Thursday, she expressed her intention to dedicate her birthday “to God for all His blessings in my life and to have a quiet celebration,” and called for donations to an account titled “Oluremi@65 Education Fund,” managed by the Ministry of Education.
“I appeal to those wishing to send birthday cards, cakes, flowers, newspaper greetings, or gifts to instead contribute to this meaningful cause—completing the National Library,” she said. “This would be the greatest birthday gift I could receive. My love for education has inspired this decision, and I am committed to supporting this worthy project,” Mrs. Tinubu added.
The National Library headquarters project in Abuja, first proposed in 1981, has been under construction since 2006. Initially awarded at N8.59 billion with an expected completion in less than two years, the project faced delays and cost overruns. By 2023, only about 44 percent of the project was completed, with estimates now ranging from N49.6 billion to over N120 billion needed to finish the 12-storey complex.
Located between the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, the site has become a symbol of stalled infrastructure development. Successive governments have pledged to complete the project, and in 2025, the Federal Government tasked the Tertiary Education Trust Fund with resuming funding and construction. Education Minister Tunji Alausa announced in April that work would restart by June 1 after site assessments.
The Nigerian Library Association also renewed its call in September 2025 for urgent completion, emphasizing that the facility is vital for education, research, and cultural preservation.
Mrs. Tinubu, a former senator and First Lady of Lagos State, has consistently linked her advocacy to education, women’s empowerment, and youth development.
