• says N20.4bn raised so far

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, has debunked claims that her 65th birthday anniversary fundraiser is tied to her husband, President Bola Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027.

This is even as she disclosed that she has so far raised N20.4 billion out of the projected N100 billion to complete the 11 floors building, started by the Shehu Shagari’s administration of 1981.

The First Lady stated this in her first lunch with the press on at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Mrs Tinubu who said the birthday account will remain open till December 2025 to receive more donations from willing Nigerians, said the 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 fundraiser is aimed at specially supporting the long-stalled National Assembly Library project, which she said is closed to her heart, as a teacher, as well as the impact the library had on her life while growing up.

Speaking at the interactive session with the press, Mrs Tinubu reflected on her previous fundraising milestones, underscoring her consistent dedication to nation-building through philanthropy. “This is not the first time I have raised funds for causes close to my heart. For my 45th birthday, I raised ₦50 million to complete the National Sickle Cell Foundation Center, which has since become fully operational. For my 50th birthday, I raised ₦200 million for the New Era Foundation,” she said.

Addressing misconceptions about any political motives behind the fundraising, the First Lady emphasized the importance of collective action for national development. “What is wrong with drawing attention to areas of need and inclusion? Helping to rebuild does not have a political undertone—it’s our duty as citizens to contribute meaningfully to society. I even donated to the post-war rebuilding of schools in Liberia,” she affirmed.

Echoing the words of President John F. Kennedy, Mrs Tinubu urged Nigerians to adopt a spirit of service: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. This should guide our actions. Like President Kennedy said, ‘Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of what divides us.’” She added that the biblical exhortation in Isaiah 58:6 has inspired her lifelong commitment to serving the nation.

The National Assembly Library project, initiated in 1981 and approved with funding in subsequent years, had faced decades of funding delays, with the budget escalating from ₦8.2 billion in 1981 to ₦23 billion as of 2023. However, with President Bola Tinubu’s administration ready to “take the bull by the horn,” as the First Lady put it, construction is projected to be completed within two years with the support of Nigerians.

“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,” she stated, revealing that the donations have already topped ₦24 billion.

In gratitude, the First Lady acknowledged notable contributors, including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and wife, 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 forum, security chiefs and their wives, business moguls like Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Arthur Eze, Tony Elumelu, Femi Otedola, among countless well-wishers.

Concluding her address, the First Lady called on all Nigerians to rise up and play their part in national rebuilding. “A grain of sand and a drop of water can become a mighty ocean. Together, Nigerians can transform the country,” she declared.
The National Library headquarters project in Abuja, originally proposed in 1981, has been under construction since 2006. At that time, the contract was awarded for N8.59 billion with an anticipated completion timeline of less than two years.

Over time, costs escalated dramatically and progress slowed significantly. By 2023, only about 44 percent of the physical work had been completed, with projected finishing costs ranging from N49.6 billion to over N120 billion for the 11-storey building.
Situated between the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, the site has become a longstanding emblem of a stalled infrastructure endeavour.