First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Tuesday stated that the National Library fund had raised N20.4bn since it was launched last Thursday, September 18, 2025.
“So far we have raised N20.4bn since this fund launched last week, and more are still coming,” the First Lady told journalists at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
Mrs. Tinubu announced intentions to raise cash for the long-awaited completion of the country’s National Library ahead of her 65th birthday on Sunday, September 21.
She invited well-wishers to give to the fund rather than mailing her presents or purchasing newspaper adverts to commemorate the occasion.
In a statement on Thursday, Tinubu said she would spend her birthday “dedicated to God for all His blessings in my life and having a quiet birthday,” while appealing for contributions to an account tagged the “Oluremi@65 Education Fund,” coordinated by the Ministry of Education.
“I wish to appeal to those who would like to send a birthday card, cakes, flowers, greetings in the newspapers, or gifts to please send the funds to the designated account for a special project close to my heart… The completion of the National Library,” she said.
“This will be the best birthday present I have ever received. My love for education has informed my decision to dedicate my birthday to this worthy cause,” Mrs. Tinubu added.
The National Library headquarters project in Abuja, which was first proposed in 1981, has been under development since 2006, when it was allocated a budget of N8.59 billion, and is anticipated to be finished within two years.
However, expenditures escalated, and progress halted. By 2023, the physical completion rate was approximately 44%, with estimates ranging from N49.6 billion to more than N120 billion required to complete the 12-story tower.
The site, situated between the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, has long been seen as a symbol of stalled infrastructure.
Successive administrations promised to complete the project, and in 2025, the Federal Government instructed the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to take over funding and restart construction.
Tunji Alausa, the education minister, announced in April that work would resume on June 1 following site assessments.
In September 2025, the Nigerian Library Association repeated its plea for quick completion, claiming that the facility is vital to education, research, and cultural preservation.
Mrs. Tinubu, a former senator and the First Lady of Lagos State, has frequently linked her advocacy to education, women’s empowerment, and youth development.
