*Over N20.4billion So Far Realised
THE First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday, September 23, described the library project as deeply personal, reflecting her lifelong passion for education and learning.
She clarified that the initiative is not a pet project, but a national effort, led by the Federal Ministry of Education, under the Oluremi at 65 Education Fund.
Meanwhile, about N20.4billion has been realised since its launch on September 18.
Recall that ahead of her 65 birthday on September 21, Mrs. Tinubu unveiled a fundraising initiative to complete the abandoned National Library headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking to State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, Mrs. Tinubu explained that the birthday account, Oluremi@65 Education Fund, would remain open till December this year to receive more donations from Nigerians towards the completion of the project.
She named signatories to the account as the Minister of Education and Chief Librarian of the Federation for transparency and accountability.
The First Lady said her role was to help drive the funds, adding: “So far, we have raised N20.4billion since this fund launched last week, and more are still coming.”
She thanked Nigerians who heeded her urged to donate to the fund instead of sending her birthday gifts or placing congratulatory newspaper adverts, recounting how libraries shaped her early years, nurtured her curiosity and personal development and reaffirmed her belief in the transformative power of books.
The former senator recalled her longstanding commitment to philanthropic causes, especially in education and public health: “This is not the first time I have raised funds for causes close to my heart.
“For my 45th birthday, I raised N50million to complete the National Sickle Cell Foundation Centre, which has since become fully operational.
“For my 50th birthday, I raised N200million for the New Era Foundation, and other charities.
“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 denied any political motives behind the initiative, insisting her focus remains on giving back, supporting the vulnerable and building a stronger nation.
“What is wrong in doing well or trying to build our country. If I could assist the post-war building process in Liberia by donating the Oluremi Tinubu Elementary and Junior Secondary School in Monte Serrado County, what is wrong in drawing attention to some of the areas of need in our beloved nation?
“It doesn’t take much to do good. Most of the work I’ve ever done is not something new; I just make it look big, and at the end of the day, it turns big.”
The National Library project, located between the National Mosque and the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja, was proposed in 1981, while construction began in 2006, with the award of a N8.59billion contract and a two-year completion target.
By 2023, only 44 per cent of the work had been done and cost estimates had risen to between N49.6billion and N120billion.
