Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know about the First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu’s, fundraising efforts for the National Library:
The Reason for the Fundraising
- A Personal Cause: Mrs. Tinubu, a former teacher and senator, has stated that her love for education and the role libraries played in her life growing up motivated her to champion the completion of the National Library.1
- Birthday Appeal: She chose to use her 65th birthday as an opportunity to raise funds for the project.2 She asked well-wishers to donate money to a designated account instead of sending her traditional birthday gifts like cards, cakes, or flowers.3
- Addressing a Long-Term Problem: The National Library headquarters in Abuja has been under construction for nearly two decades, with the project initiated as far back as 1981.4 It has faced repeated delays and significant cost escalations, with its physical completion rate standing at about 44% in 2023.5 This fundraising is an attempt to bridge the gap left by insufficient budgetary allocations over the years.6
The Fundraising Plan and Progress
- Fundraising Goal: While some reports mention a target of N100 billion, other sources indicate that the estimated cost to complete the project ranges from N49.6 billion to over N120 billion.7
- Current Funds Raised: As of late September 2025, the First Lady announced that her fundraising initiative had already raised over N20 billion.8
- Account Details: The funds are being collected in an account named “Oluremi@65 Education Fund,” coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education.9 The signatories to the account are the Minister of Education and the Chief Librarian of the Federation, with Mrs.10 Tinubu’s role being to drive the fundraising. The account will remain open until December 2025 to accept more donations.11
- Donors: Contributions have come from a wide range of individuals and institutions, including President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife, past and present government officials, business moguls, and other prominent Nigerians.12
Key Points and Public Response
- Political Motivation: The First Lady has repeatedly denied claims that the fundraising is politically motivated or tied to her husband’s potential 2027 re-election bid.13 She argues that it is a civic duty for Nigerians to contribute to national development.14
- Criticism: The initiative has drawn some criticism from those who argue that a national project of such importance should be funded by the government through proper budgetary allocations, not through public appeals.15 Critics, including opposition figures, have questioned why the government has not been able to complete the project with public funds.16
- Positive Reception: The National Library of Nigeria has welcomed the crowdfunding initiative, seeing it as a sign that prominent Nigerians are taking notice of the institution’s infrastructural challenges.17 The initiative is also seen as a way to encourage collective responsibility and public ownership of the project.18
