By Prosper Mene
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has firmly dismissed suggestions that her 65th birthday fundraiser for the long-stalled National Library project carries political motives, describing it instead as a heartfelt “love project” fueled by her lifelong passion for education.
Speaking during a luncheon with the State House Press Corps at the Presidential Villa, Mrs. Tinubu announced that the initiative, tagged Oluremi@65 Education Fund, has already mobilized ₦20.4 billion in donations since its launch on September 18, with the account remaining open until December 2025 to encourage further contributions.
The fundraiser, aimed at completing the National Library headquarters in Abuja, a project abandoned for years despite its foundational role in preserving the nation’s intellectual heritage, was unveiled ahead of Mrs. Tinubu’s September 21 birthday. Rather than accepting traditional gifts like cards, cakes, or newspaper adverts, she urged supporters to redirect their goodwill toward this cause. “This is not a pet project; it’s a national effort coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Education,” she clarified, noting that the account’s signatories are the Minister of Education and the Chief Librarian of the Federation to ensure transparency and accountability.
Her role, she emphasizd, is simply to “drive the funds” and amplify the call for collective action.Addressing criticisms that the effort might be linked to President Bola Tinubu’s potential 2027 reelection bid, the First Lady pushed back with characteristic resolve. “What is wrong in doing well or trying to build our country? If I could assist the post-war rebuilding process in Liberia by donating the Oluremi Tinubu Elementary and Junior Secondary School, what is wrong in drawing attention to areas of need in our beloved nation?” she asked rhetorically, referencing her earlier philanthropy in Monte Serrado County. She echoed Former U.S. President John F. Kennedy’s famous call to service”Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”.
Mrs. Tinubu framed the initiative as a civic duty, free from partisan undertones.
Mrs. Tinubu expressed gratitude to key donors, including her husband, President Bola Tinubu; Vice President Kashim Shettima and his wife; former President Muhammadu Buhari; several former First Ladies; the leadership of the National Assembly; governors and their spouses; security chiefs; and prominent entrepreneurs such as Aliko Dangote, Abdulsamad Rabiu, Arthur Eze, Tony Elumelu, Jim Ovia, and Femi Otedola. She highlighted her personal connection to libraries, crediting them for shaping her as a former teacher and 12-year senator on the Senate Committee on Education. “The impact of the library on my life while growing up motivated this call for donations,” she shared.
The project, which Mrs. Tinubu assured would be completed within two years under the current administration’s backing, comes amid earlier pushback from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). In early September, the opposition party argued that the National Library is a “national priority” warranting direct budgetary allocation rather than reliance on private charity, urging the First Lady to leverage her influence for executive funding.
While acknowledging such views, Mrs. Tinubu’s response today positioned the fundraiser as a complementary bridge, mobilizing resources while advocating for sustained government commitment.
