Senator Oluremi Tinubu has turned her 65th birthday into a rallying cry for national service. Her fundraiser for the long-abandoned National Library has already pulled in ₦20.7 billion.
She made the announcement during a lunch with journalists at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
The Oluremi@65 Education Fund will remain open till December 2025. More donations are expected from Nigerians who believe in the power of knowledge.
“We all have to rise up, play our parts in the building process. A grain of sand and a drop of water makes a mighty ocean,” she said.
Not Politics, Just Patriotism
The First Lady dismissed claims that the fundraiser is politically driven. She said her love for libraries began in childhood.
“This is not just a project but a national treasure that will serve generations to come,” she declared.
She recalled past efforts. “For my 45th birthday, I raised ₦50 million to complete the National Sickle Cell Foundation Center… For my 50th birthday, I raised ₦200 million for the New Era Foundation.”
She also referenced her donation to post-war Liberia. “What is wrong in doing well or trying to build our country?” she asked.
A Library Stuck in Time
The National Library project began in 1981. It has suffered decades of delay, with costs ballooning from ₦8.2 billion to ₦23 billion by 2023.
President Tinubu’s administration now wants to complete it within two years. The First Lady believes Nigerians can make it happen.
“I have played my part in this project,” she said. “I believe Nigerians can raise the funds needed to complete the library.”
She quoted Lebanese writer Gebran Khalil Gebran: “If you are the first, then you are a parasite. If the second, then you are an oasis in a desert.”
Who’s Supporting the Fund?
The fund has drawn support from top leaders and business moguls. Contributors include President Tinubu, Vice President Shettima, former President Buhari, and several governors and lawmakers.
Business giants like Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Arthur Eze, Tony Elumelu, and Jim Ovia have also donated.
The account is managed by the Minister of Education and the Chief Librarian of the Federation. Senator Tinubu is not a signatory.
“My role is only to help drive support for the cause,” she said.
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