First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on Tuesday disclosed that the National Library fund has so far generated N20.4bn since its launch on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
“So far we have raised N20.4bn since this fund launched last week, and more are still coming,” she told journalists at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
Ahead of her 65th birthday on Sunday, September 21, Mrs Tinubu had announced that she would dedicate the occasion to raising money for the completion of the long-delayed National Library headquarters. She urged her well-wishers to contribute to the fund rather than buy gifts or place newspaper advertisements.
In a statement she signed on Thursday, she noted that she intended to spend her birthday “dedicated to God for all His blessings in my life and having a quiet birthday,” while appealing for donations 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 should 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 was first proposed in 1981, but construction only began in 2006 when it was awarded for N8.59bn with a two-year completion timeline. Delays and rising costs stalled progress, leaving the project only 44 per cent complete by 2023. Estimates for finishing the 12-storey building now range from N49.6bn to more than N120bn.
Situated between the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, the library complex has become a symbol of stalled public infrastructure.
The Federal Government had also directed the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to resume funding and oversee construction. Education Minister Tunji Alausa announced in April that work would restart by June 1 following fresh site assessments.
Earlier this month, the Nigerian Library Association again urged quick completion of the project, stressing its importance for education, research, and cultural preservation.
