“Remi Tinubu Breaks Silence: Why I’m Personally Raising Funds For Nigeria’s National Library

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has revealed that her 65th birthday fundraiser for the completion of the National Library has so far raised ₦20.7 billion.

According to a statement from her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, Mrs. Tinubu made this known on Tuesday during a luncheon with members of the press at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

She explained that the special account, Oluremi@65 Education Fund, will remain open until December 2025 to allow for more donations from Nigerians willing to contribute to the long-delayed project.

Quoting Lebanese writer and philosopher Gebran Khalil Gebran, the First Lady urged citizens to play their part in nation-building. “If we take our baby steps in well-doing, before long, things will begin to shape up for our country. A grain of sand and a drop of water make a mighty ocean,” she said.

Mrs. Tinubu dismissed speculations that the initiative was politically motivated, stressing that her passion as a teacher and the impact of libraries on her upbringing inspired her call for donations.

She recalled her track record of philanthropy, noting that she had previously raised ₦50 million to complete the National Sickle Cell Foundation Centre at age 45, and ₦200 million for the New Era Foundation and other charities during her 50th birthday.

“This is not the first time I’ve raised funds for causes dear to me. What is wrong in drawing attention to our nation’s needs? If I could help post-war rebuilding in Liberia by donating schools, surely I can help spotlight Nigeria’s unfinished National Library — a national treasure that will serve generations,” she stated.

As of 2 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, the fund had hit ₦20.4 billion and was still growing. She clarified that the account is jointly managed by the Minister of Education and the Chief Librarian of the Federation, while her role is to drive support.

The National Library project, initiated in 1981, has suffered decades of funding delays, with its cost ballooning from ₦8.2 billion at inception to ₦23 billion as of 2023.

The First Lady expressed gratitude to donors including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife, former President Muhammadu Buhari, ex-first ladies, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and his wife, House Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and his wife, members of the National Assembly, state governors and their spouses, security chiefs, as well as business moguls such as Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Arthur Eze, Tony Elumelu, and Jim Ovia, among many others.